One of the beauties of the game of golf is that average fans are able to tee it up on the same holes at the same courses as some of the legends of the sport.
While there are obvious exclusions with the private nature of some golf clubs or courses, the likes of Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, the Old Course at St. Andrews and the host of this week’s Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass, are open to the public if you’re willing to plop down the greens fee.
With that in mind, put yourself into the shoes of the folks in this Skratch video below. You’ve just shelled out somewhere in the neighborhood of $500 to play Pete Dye’s masterpiece on a beautiful day in Jacksonville, Florida.
While all of TPC Sawgrass is memorable, when you get back home, all anyone is going to ask about is the famed island green 17th hole. That’s where actor/comedian Paul Gutkowski comes into play as Sawgrass’ affable bearer of bad news. He informs group after group that unfortunately, they’re not going to get to play the iconic hole.
Folks, we have some bad news…
We gotta shut down 17 at @TPCSawgrass. pic.twitter.com/1VtLBfOzah
— Skratch (@Skratch) March 11, 2019
Gutkowski’s reason range from pros are coming to practice to wood storks have laid an egg in the Sunday hole location.
Golfers are a pretty understanding and genial bunch, but even after they get over the initial information, they still can’t believe their ears and start to get testy — and can you blame them?
Finally, and mercifully, Gutkowski lets the groups know he’s just messing with them, and not a moment too soon, either. There were a few guys and at least one caddie who looked to be willing to throw down over the stoppage of play.
