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.
Tasha Larson (red) with Bari Bowman (left) and Marci Menaged (right) stop for a moment near the Perch halfway snack bar.