Rain, Rain, Go Away....

Well folks, I have returned from Northwest Arkansas and had to laugh as it rained here today. I must share how mother nature wreaked havoc on my past week:

On Friday morning, I sprung out of bed around 4:00am. Jumped in the shower, got out, started getting ready and all of sudden, bam. No lights. No tv, no nothing. Now in my house, I could probably survive and find my way to the door. But in a hotel room, I was in full panic mode. I grabbed on to the walls (as if they would provide me sight and stability) and told myself that it was a hotel- they had to have a generator and the power would be back up any minute. Um, well, apparently this is an urban legend or something. After five minutes of grasping onto the walls for dear life, I realized I needed to find my cell phone to help me continue getting ready.

I crawled to the bed to try and find it and after several aimless wacks on the bed, I found it. Still having soaking wet hair and no mascara on, I scrambled to find my spiffy new, lifesaving Titleist hat and my make up bag. I had to use the stairs in the hotel as the elevator was out and I made it to my car, dodging bolts of lightning all the way to the course. (I should note: It is not safe to be on a golf course during a lightning storm. And yet somehow, I felt it was a good idea to see how the course was holding up.)

I arrived to a pitch-black Clubhouse and an 18th Hole Fairway that resembled a raging rapid:

Needless to say, I knew it was going to be a long day. Players starting coming up to me asking about breakfast and the first tee time as I, apparently, was not the only one to dash to the golf course in a middle of a black out. I explained that breakfast really wouldn't be ready until there was some power back on and that with the river on 18, I doubted the morning rounds would go off today, if at all. After a five hour rain delay, the morning rounds went off in the afternoon and the last afternoon group teed off at 7:15pm. If you don't know much about golf, then I should explain that it is not possible to play a full round of golf when you tee off at 7:15pm. So what did the rules hand down to us? Play until dark and then show up tomorrow morning to finish your round. This decision cost me three 3:45am wake up calls in a row and A LOT of unhappy volunteers.

On Saturday, I had so many unhappy volunteers take their aggressions out on me, that I pretty much lost it and tried to get on Highway 412 to take me back to Tulsa. But, realizing they were just as tired as I was, I decided to stick it out for one more day of banana distribution and a ridiculous early morning.

I must say, the rain pretty much dampened every one's mood and plagued us on and off all weekend. At one point I think I tallied six full course evacuations due to electricity in the area. Needless to say, I think I could evacuate that course in my sleep now. We did have an 18th green ceremony and a champion, which is something they couldn't even do last year because of the rain, so hopefully the event will continue improving its relationship with the weather gods.

There were some other highlights including a fabulous fireworks show (insert sarcasm- fireworks scare me to pieces) a patriotic veil I made out of sustainable materials that my boss wore during the festivities, a very interesting Pairings Party and of course two full days of Pro-Am Registration!! Love it, love it, love it.

I am happy to be home and happy to be able to work inside and not scramble for my rain pants with every sprinkle that hits the pavement. I am a little sad; this was the last LPGA event I have to work this year. I have other travels planned for work, but no more 6:30am tee times or fruit vending anytime soon. And no more fireworks. God Bless America.