I checked in at the hotel before heading to the course, and it was a beaut: 10-minute walk from the course, or a 2-minute drive. Good freaking stuff. I drove today but will walk tomorrow. Hotel room was only 44 bucks a night and includes microwave and fridge. Better value than the $130 hotel that brother Nick made me purchase on the way to SC (even though that hotel did have a fridge, Nick made me throw away the sandwich that we kept in it...so net usage of zero).
Tried to get to the course and had a true journey. Circled around the course a few times, with no idea where the clubhouse could be. Media parking signs were nowhere to be found. Ended up parking by the website programming trailer, where the guy gave me a mean look for disturbing his work. I was intimidated already.
Things went up from there though. I meandered my way to the clubhouse, and somehow found the media center after 3 or 4 wrong turns and inaccurate directions (everyone was really nice though, I should say). Everyone with the Nationwide Tour media team (Joe, Jeff, and Royce) was super nice, and the media coordinator for the event (Brett) had no trouble starting and continuing a conversation.
Before I knew it, I had my media pass, and Jeff was taking me down to the range. He introduced me to a bunch of Tour-related people such as the tournament director and a rules official. I even got to meet Stephanie Sparks, a Golf Channel reporter. What a surreal experience, standing on that range next to all these golfers I have followed for years. For me, I can't top that.
I also met Jeff Gove, the player who I will be following as one of my main focuses throughout the summer. He couldn't have been nicer, and he seemed genuinely excited about meeting with me. Freakin' surreal.
I found myself asking Jeff Adams all kinds of random questions about the Tour. After following the tour for so many years, I kept thinking of all kinds of random questions about random things, and it was crazy to be able to ask a legitimate source. He didn't have all the answers, but he told me I will be meeting people along the way who will know. Wait, what? I'm going to meet more people with the Tour? Who? It seems like these guys are rolling out the red carpet for me - a kid from Syracuse, doing a school project. Again, crazy.
So tomorrow I will be getting up nice and early to follow Jeff Gove, who tees off at 9:35. After the round, we are going to sit down and talk for a while. I'm kind of nervous, but really excited. I've been tracking this guy's golf for years, and now I get to have a discussion with him about his golf and career. Might not be a Cogan-esque hour-long discussion, but it sounds like it will be plenty long enough.
As for tonight, I'll be venuring out into downtown Greenville to see wherever the winds take me. By myself for four nights, I need to figure out some entertainment. I will probably never see most of these Greenvillites again, so I might as well try to have some fun. I might also dabble in a par-3 course that has lights, for some Bob-o-Link nostalgia.
Good stuff, good day, hopefully a good night ahead, and a good day tomorrow.
If all else fails, I know I'll have the media breakfast and lunch buffet. At this point, you can't really beat that.
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