BENTON HARBOR — Paul and Juliett Hopkins, a couple from London, England, manufactured their way to Southwest Michigan with no a hitch.
No flight delays. No COVID challenges. No journey challenges.
But receiving from their Stevensville hotel to the 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores took a little bit of creative imagination.
The two were being among the readers from all over the entire world and the state who arrived to enjoy some of the world’s best golfers compete in the initial spherical of the tournament Thursday.
The London couple’s eyes would be targeted on a single golfer in individual. Juliett’s brother, Paul Broadhurst, is one of this year’s competition and gained the previous Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores in 2018. So when they could not get a cab, Uber or Lyft ride from the Hampton Inn in Stevensville to Harbor Shores, they bought innovative.
They experienced previously satisfied Rick Rea, a volunteer marshal for the event, and noticed him in the lodge foyer carrying his KitchenAid PGA garb. They questioned him for a trip to the golfing system, and he gladly complied.
“We marshals are ambassadors for the tour. Our career is to assistance the gamers, their people, caddies and spectators have a enjoyment and safe party,” mentioned Rea, who is from St. Louis.
The couple from London reported they’ve been to the U.S. several moments, but this was their first time in Michigan. When asked if there is everything they’ve heard about in Southwest Michigan that is a “must see” on their trip, Paul explained, “This golfing study course.”
Mike Russell and his wife, Carole, traveled from Wallace, N.C., to look at Mike’s friend, golf professional Larry George, compete in the Senior PGA Championship.
Spectators wander in close proximity to the 16th hole throughout the initial spherical of the 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship held Thursday at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor.
“We stick to Larry where ever he goes,” Mike Russell stated. “I golfed with him up north a couple days in the past. He’s excellent. But everyone in this article is great.”
Their eyes will also be on George’s spouse, Patty George, caddying for her partner for the initial time.
The Russells are being at an Airbnb about 5 minutes away from Harbor Shores. They explained they relished a wonderful meal Wednesday night at RyeBelles Cafe & Bar in St. Joseph.
“Dinner was quite good and our server, named Drew, was fantastic,” Russell mentioned.
Future on their meals tour, Silver Seashore Pizza.
Mark Johnson drove in from Fight Creek, and packed together two of his golfing buddies.
“A buddy had despatched me tickets, and I introduced these two buddies along,” he said. “This is my very first time in this article. I like that it’s not as crowded as the Ryder Cup in Wisconsin past September.”
The three buddies, all carrying umbrellas, stated Thursday morning’s weather conditions was much better than they envisioned.
“We also have tickets to the fancy club at the 16th eco-friendly, and we’ll get pleasure from free meals and beer,” Johnson mentioned. “At the Ryder Cup it was $18 for a beer. I experienced zero beers.”
Dave Pontius drove in from Elkhart, Ind. He mentioned it’s his 1st time coming to Harbor Shores whilst he has mates who have performed the training course.
Spectators obtain near the 16th hole all through the initially spherical of the 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship held Thursday at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor.
He mentioned he follows golfing on tv and, along with a friend, has volunteered at the Senior PGA at the Brickyard in Indianapolis and worked the KitchenAid Senior Open up at Notre Dame.
“We came nowadays due to the fact we decided to keep away from the getaway weekend,” Pontius claimed. “I’m having fun with the event environment. I’ll view the rest of it on Television.”
Chase Carnes of Columbia, Mo., attended the first working day of the tournament with his father, Cardie Carnes from Monmouth, Sick., and Scott Pieper from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Cardie Carnes reported he and Pieper performed golfing alongside one another in large faculty, and reported he once performed with professional-golfer Todd Hamilton. Chase Carnes coached golf for a yr right after graduating from college or university.
It was their initially time coming to Harbor Shores.
Nearer to house, students from Gennifer Gunter’s culinary course at Benton Harbor Substantial College ended up dealt with to a early morning at the golf program as attendees of KitchenAid celeb cooks Christopher Covelli and Brett Wagner, who before this week shared culinary competencies with students forward of their forthcoming look at the KitchenAid Fairway Club.
The learners attended a cooking demonstration at the Fairway Club, then viewed a minor golfing prior to heading again to school.