A Short Drive Away

Hall of Fame Pitcher John Smoltz tees
off his second day on the Champions tour.
6/22/2019  dwm photo

While we lived in Indianapolis, there were several major sporting events in the city - multiple Final Fours, a Super Bowl, Olympic Swim and Diving Trials, and annually the Indy 500.

None of them, took place less than two miles from my home.

The American Family Insurance Championship completed its fourth PGA Champions Tour event yesterday.  Madison native Jerry Kelly won in a playoff!

Because I ran in the U. W. Carbone Cancer Center Race for Research the previous weekend, I had a free pass and used it Saturday.

Golfers warming up on the
driving range. 6/22/19 (dwm)

There isn't enough parking at the course, so cars parked at the high school. I'm two blocks from the school and walked to the shuttle. 

A golf tournament is a combination sporting event and fair.

I picked up cool swag from exhibitors - sunglasses, a 6 ounce thermal cup, and first aid kit.  I watched professional golfers take swings just feet away as they warmed up.  There was a golf simulator that proved I didn't belong on the other side of the ropes.

Colin Montgomerie watches
his tee shot. 6/22/19 (dwm)

American Family Insurance is based in Madison.  They sponsor the tournament to get their name out to the public while bringing the country and lots of visitors to their home town.

The course belongs to the University of Wisconsin and the host golfer is Steve Stricker, who lives nearby and grew up in southern Wisconsin.  He became eligible for the Senior Golf tour three years ago.

It attracts most of the top golfers on the Champions Tour (it isn't called the seniors anymore) and large crowds.

I'm not a golfer, and not a terribly big golf fan, but I'll watch the big golf events on TV.  When I was young, there were fewer sports on TV, and no cable, so I watched golf.

Tom Byrum on the tee box.
He was a brush with famous in April.
6/22/19 dwm photo

To a great extent, those golfers are now on the Champions Tour - fans want to watch the players we grew up with.

In John Smoltz's case, he's chasing a dream.  A Hall of Fame pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and network broadcaster, he's always been an avid golfer.  Since he passed 50, he's trying prove he can golf at the professional level.

When he teed off Saturday he was among the last golfers on the leader board.  Fans in Atlanta jerseys were hoping to get his attention, but he was focused on his game.

A Top Golf simulator. I did poorly
but got a cool prize. 6/22/19 (dwm)

Nearly half the field were golfers whose names even casual fans would recognize.

It was a great day.  I spent five hours on the course, checked out merchandise tents, and took pictures.

For me, and thousands of others, we were there to see two of the greatest names in sports history tee it up in the Celebrity Foursome.  Which is tomorrow's blog!