Since 1980, golfers from around the world have gathered each year for a tournament like no other. An event designed to honor tradition, the integrity and the skill of the game as displayed by its most legendary players…the U.S. Senior Open Championship.
For the eighth time, the golf world will once again turn its attention to the historic Inverness Club in Toledo this week, the site for this year’s U. S. Senior Open. For local golf enthusiasts Marshall Goens, Steven Schmitmeyer, Michael Schmitmeyer, Kurt Kuffner, and Adam Kuffner, this championship will always hold a special meaning. The five will be working “inside the ropes” for this USGA event. Goens will be a marshall on the 13th hole during the four rounds of the championship, which begins on Thursday, Kurt Kuffner will be a marshall on the 15th hole, Steven Schmitmeyer will be working for the television news media, and Michael Schmitmeyer and Adam Kuffner will be standard bearers.
Standard Bearers walk along with the golfers and their caddies and carry a two-sided scoring standard to keep spectators posted on how each player in that group stands in respect to par both in the round being played and cumulatively. Marshalls are charged with two main objectives: 1. For the players - to help insure fair pay, and maintenance of the time schedule by keeping play moving. 2. For the spectators - to promote physical safety and enjoyment of play.
Marc Stockwell is co-general chairman of the championship and reflected on the work of the thousands of tournament volunteers. “The U.S. Senior Open is the most prestigious title in senior golf, and this year’s historic Inverness Club promises to be an exciting and inspiring golf experience. Without each and every one of our 2300 volunteers, the awesome task of hosting this impressive Championship would be unimaginable.”
Michael Schmitmeyer will begin work on the 1st tee at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday and his cousin Adam Kuffner will begin his work on the 10th tee at 2:30 p.m. “Adam started this entire process last fall “surfing” golf web sites”, commented his dad. “Adam saw that the U.S. Senior Open was soliciting volunteers and the rest is history. These boys are obsessed with golf!”
Thanks, Kurt Kuffner.
