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My two adult sons and I go on an annual one-week golf trip each summer. This year we picked Phoenix. On Tuesday, June 6th we had an early tee time at TPC Scottsdale because of the heat. The course was in great shape. The golf shop people were friendly and the people handling the bags and cart girl were friendly and efficient. We started at 6:40a.m and played our round in 4 hours, 10 minutes.

I would say it was a perfect experience, except for one aspect. About the third hole the marshal came by and told us he had told the people in front of us to “pick it up” and he wanted us to “stay on them”. A few holes later, the same marshal came by again and told us to “stay on those people in front of you, and don’t let them relax.” Apparently, he was telling everybody that because when he appeared again a few holes later, I told him that while one of my sons was waiting in the fairway for the green to clear so he could hit his ball, one of the golfers behind us hit a ball to within 3 feet of him. His comment was, “Oh, they fired a warning shot, huh?”

I find it interesting that while we had looked forward to playing this course we see on TV every year, and had an otherwise enjoyable time, whenever we talk about it, the first thing we remember is the marshal. I assume he was just following instructions from higher ups, but you get tired of hearing somebody telling you to “pick it up” when there is no place to go. As was, we played our round quicker than their recommended time.