2014: Something You May Not Know about TPC Sawgrass!

Golf Writer Andy Reistetter lives in the Golf Capital of the World- Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida- home of the PGA TOUR, TPC Sawgrass and THE PLAYERS with the World Golf Hall of Fame nearby in St. Augustine. In this article Reistetter writes about something you may not know about the PGA TOUR. Something behind the familiar faces you always see when you tee it up at TPC Sawgrass or come to THE PLAYERS. Here is the inside story...

"Together, Anything's Possible." That's the tag line for the PGA TOUR's charitable initiative. An initiative that has given approximately $1.7 billion to charity since its inception in 1938. An initiative with a goal to reach $2 billion by 2013. At TPC Sawgrass, the home of THE PLAYERS a record $5.9 million was raised for local charities this year alone. "Together, Anything's Possible," isn't simply a tagline with a patriotic ribbon tied around. But who is "included" in the "together"? PGA TOUR golf professionals, tournament sponsors and the millions of volunteers at events all over the country are visible and surely included. But there is someone else that one sees regularly that helps make everything possible at TPC Sawgrass. "Beverage cart attendants," or who we commonly referred to as "cart girls." In fact there is much to learn about these predominantly young women. We all know most beverage cart attendants have a pretty smile and an outgoing personality. What we may not realize is how hard they work. They toil tirelessly to stock their carts, collect our trash and hustle to serve us in an efficient, exemplary, and personal manner. After all it is all about the golfing experience when you play a TPC course. Marci Menaged, one of the 16 Sawgrass sisters will tell you "it's not all glitz and glamour." There are adverse conditions at times- heat, rain and even cold but thankfully in Florida for only two weeks of the year. There are mosquitoes, bugs and even the occasional raccoon trying to obtain some free food. Fortunately no cart girls have been hit at TPC Sawgrass with our errant shots though we have dinged a few of the beverage carts. Bari Bowman, another Sawgrass beverage cart attendant, will tell you "it's my favorite job… ever… I come into work happy and leave even happier." TPC Sawgrass, like other golf-based business has felt the effects of the 2008 economic downturn and its lingering effects. Like every other operation at TPC Sawgrass, General Manager Bill Hughes challenged the on-course folks to increase their revenues. According to Kellie Ivey who was responsible for the on-course operations at the time, the collective thought was to put on a new community face, build goodwill and impact revenues in a positive manner. Translation: the likeability factor to the nth degree! While playing golf, people do more business and buy more things from people they like and admire. We all know that but may not have realized it applies attendants and their beverage cart sales as well. What did the ladies, who quench our thirst and satisfy our hunger when we are in the midst of the Valley or the Stadium, do to become more recognizable in the community? They volunteer as a team. Teaming up with the acclaimed culinary staff at TPC Sawgrass they helped prepare and serve dinner at the Gabriel House of Care. This is home to people who come for organ transplants or cancer treatments at the Mayo Clinic. As a team they conducted a school supplies drive for the Daniel Kids supporting the foundation's goal of "improving the odds for kids" who are at-risk in the Jacksonville area. As Tasha Larson, Dining Room Captain and acting On-course Food & Beverage Manager said, "its not something we have to do, it is something we like to do… its lots of fun and rewarding." All would agree the beverage cart attendants fulfill Bill Hughes' definition of a team both on and off the golf course: "T.E.A.M- Together Everyone Activates Magic" Teams like this are the last to be affected by and the first to recover from the impact of outside agencies like the economy. Another thing we may not realize is what these ladies do when they are not working or volunteering. Over two-thirds of the ladies are enrolled in college. The professional golfers who compete in THE PLAYERS Championship walk past a sign in the tunnel leaving the Sawgrass clubhouse: "Through this tunnel pass the greatest golfers in the world competing for the right to be called THE PLAYERS Champion." Only a few feet away the beverage cart attendants drive out of the cart storage facility beneath the clubhouse. These special people have earned the right to be a unique part of that "Together." "Together, Anything's Possible." Next time you are out golfing at TPC Sawgrass have a look at the beverage carts themselves… they are high powered customized vehicles with real rims, not your ordinary golf cart. Then take a look at the attendant, thank them for their volunteerism, and have another round of drinks to celebrate a great golfing experience.