As part of his training — like he needed it — Dalrymple had to pour a pint each of Michelob and Michelob Light. Then the caterer promptly forced him to dump the ice-cold malted bliss down the drain.
After a brief protest, the beer-loving Dalrymple did as he was told and then shed a tear at the atrocity.
Paying His Way
Open contestant Carol Semple Thompson, 53, is a houseguest of Pinehurst Mayor Steve Smith.
It seems Smith and Semple Thompson, whose father was at one time president of the USGA, are both members of the Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley, Pa.
For putting her up for the week at the Country Club of North Carolina, Semple Thompson has named Hizzoner as her back-up caddie.
Both, Please
The Progress Energy corporate hospitality tent, which was appropriately chilled to goose-bump level, boasted plenty of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream for its guests.
That’s why Sandhills Chamber of Commerce President Jim Bilyak had been badgering Jan Powell, CP&L’s manager of community relations, for a ticket to the luxury suite between the 12th and 14th greens.
Bilyak is well known for his sweet tooth. When he was offered his choice of either a Cherry Garcia or Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream bar, Bilyak just said “yes.”
True Dedication
Beth Kocher, executive vice president for Pinehurst Championship Management and chairwoman of Pinehurst’s 2005 U.S. Open executive committee, was beaming at the big crowds Thursday and the smooth-running operations of the tournament.
“Our team is just phenomenal,” Kocher said. “Nobody’s had more than four hours sleep a night in the last week. They’re dedicated to making this event the best ever.”
Out Among ‘Em
Congressman Howard Coble took in some of the golf action Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning as a guest of his friend, Jan Powell, CP&L’s community relations manager.
Coble mixed and mingled with his constituents and gave a speech to the Carthage Rotary Club Thursday as part of his visit.
“Howard was unable to get to the Men’s Open in 1999,” Powell said. “Now he has first-hand knowledge of what he missed two years ago.”
Mia and Annika
In the early days of this Open, at least, soccer phenom Mia Hamm and top-rated golfer Annika Sorenstam were the undisputed superstars.
The Pilot asked a few young people what made this dynamic duo so special.
"Mia is an all-around good person," said Emily Hanes, 17, of Asheboro. "She's just awesome."
Kristen Rich, 14, referred to Hamm as the "female Michael Jordan."
Mallory McGowan,9, came all the way from Colusa, Calif., to see Hamm, but she had trouble describing her fascination with the soccer star. "I don't know," she said. "She's just good."
Majorie Swinarton is impressed by Sorenstam's skill. "She's such a purist in the way she swings her club and the way she plays," Swinarton said while taking a break from her job as a volunteer to watch some of the golfers.
Hunter Page, 10, considers himself a fan of all professional golfers, but he was quick to note that Annika Sorenstam is his favorite. He admires her sportsmanship because "she doesn't get upset when she hits a bad shot."
Ticket Scalping
The U.S. Women's Open is not without its own police action.
"Scalpers" standing on the public right of way along several roads are attempting to sell tickets to the Open even though there are still tickets available at the gates.
Police have warned several people to move on. But so far, no one has been arrested for violating a state law prohibiting the sale of admission ticket in excess of the printed price.
Lt. Carol McCarn said the law allows someone to sell a ticket for up to $3 over the printed price as a "service or handling" fee.
"We've had two calls about it," McCarn said. "We ask them to move on, but we can't make them leave the public right of way," she said.
Police have found no evidence of anyone selling the tickets for more than $3 over the printed price that would permit them to make an arrest, she said.
At the 1999 Men's Open at Pinehurst Resort, some people were "scalping" tickets on private property. They were arrested for trespassing, McCarn said.
"The situation is a little different," she said.
If scalpers are caught at work violating the state law on private, Pine Needles property, they could be subject to trespassing charges.
