By Ryan Spoehr
SLN staff
With Wisconsin’s first PGA U.S. Open just up the road from Whitewater, a couple men from the area had roles in one of the biggest sporting events of the year.
Whitewater School District Superintendent Mark Elworthy and local insurance agent Ron Binning each took part in helping the event become a reality. They were two of the more than 5,000 total volunteers, and 4,000 volunteers from Wisconsin to help out at Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin June 15 through 18.
“(Sunday) I got to the 18th grandstand, so I could watch the finals,” Elworthy said. “It’s hard to imagine 35,000 people in one place. (Sunday) it seemed like even more.”
Binning said crowds at the event were surprisingly respectful of the players.
“Crowds were really respectful of players. There were a few guys hollering out, ‘You’re the man,’ but not many. I think it’s a tribute to how Wisconsin is. I thought the crowds were great. When it came to teeing off, it was dead quiet,” Binning said.
What their jobs entailed
Binning has volunteered on the Wisconsin amateur circuit in the past, which led to him getting the opportunity to be a ball position volunteer throughout the event. He used lasers and GPS coordinates to determine distances and stats on hole No. 8. Information was then fed to media outlets.
This was Binning’s first time as a volunteer at PGA event. Elworthy has volunteered at PGA events since the Ryder Cup in 2002.
“It was kind of fun to interact with people who volunteered,” Elworthy said. “You just get a different perspective.”
Elworthy worked on scoreboard duty. The scoreboard was not digital, so it was an old-fashioned way of keeping score.
“It was like keeping score at Wrigley Field or Fenway Park,” Elworthy said.
Elworthy had an opportunity to play at Erin Hills in 2004, so he is familiar with it, a secluded area northwest of Milwaukee.
“When you drive to Erin, the sign is so small you could miss it. It is really in the middle of a cornfield,” Elworthy said.
This year’s U.S. Open was not without news that transcended the competition on the greens. An elderly man died during the event. Also, e. coli concerns led to a complete overhaul in keeping water available for people at the event.
“It was interesting. We didn’t know it happened until the the day after. The day after, the USGA did away with the water station and brought in a new station. It was like the cooler you would see in your office,” Binning said. “Thousands of bottles came in by the truckloads. It seemed like it changed overnight. They were amazingly quick as if there was a contingency plan.”
“There was a lot of water to supply because it was hot. The only day it was cool was Sunday,” Binning said. “We were up in the hills. It was cool and we had coats with us on Sunday. Otherwise it was hot. I think it hit 90 a couple of days. There was no shade. A lot of sunscreen was used.”
Special memories made
Binning shared a special moment from his volunteer time. While there wasn’t much interaction with the players, Whee Kim hit a ball up to where Binning was stationed.
“He was almost engaging. He said, ‘Wow, you guys have a great view up here,’” Binning said. “As he left, he told us to have a great day. I don’t know if all golfers are that congenial.”
One of Elworthy’s top memories from the event, he said, was being able to follow the play of Edgerton native Steve Stricker.
“That was a treat. He was having a good day… He made some putts no one else could make,” Elworthy said.
It took a significant amount of time just to get to the course or leave it.
“I talked to a family, and it took them 75 minute just to get to the shuttle to the front gate,” Elworthy said.
“You had to park in West Bend or Oconomowoc and be bussed there,” Binning said.
There were adjustments made around the course for the special event.
“It was more amazing seeing the temporary infrastructure with the temporary roads,” Elworthy said.
Both Binning and Elworthy said the weekend was about making memories.
“With the prestige, this was definitely a memory maker,” Binning said.
“It’s no doubt a wonderful experience everyone should try once,” Elworthy said.
Volunteers paid $175 to be a part of the event, but received two shirts, a jacket, a hat and a water bottle for their work. They also had access to a hospitality tent that included water, donuts, bagels and other items.
