The worlds best players are congregating at Austin Country Club for the 2018 World Golf Championship Dell Match Play event. The practice tee, putting and chipping greens were
busy as players prepared and began their preparations for the matches that begin Wednesday. Player pairings take place tonight on the golf channel.
Front Row – Lisa Allen, Charlie Mahar, Hunter Rodriguez, Teri Mahar
Back Row – Don Simeneaux, John Chatmas, Mikiel Featherston, Renee Harvey
Everyone enjoyed the final days of winter on what seemed like a typical Texas Spring Day. This group enjoyed lunch on the Terrace before venturing out to the practice tee and onto the course. While most of the group is from Austin, the Mahar family is in from Minnesota. They played the TPC course in San Antonio as well as Austin Golf Club before their outing to the Dell Match play.
As Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reid, Jason Duffner and the rest of the field hit balls on the practice tee, Austin Country Club members Michael and Richard chatted and noted the differences in the various swings, body types and commented on the beautiful weather.
The membership at Austin Country club voted to host the Dell Match Play tournament for three years and the PGA Tour has an option for a fourth year. Members are enjoying seeing the world’s best players as compensation for the months of construction prior to and after the tournament. The course is in excellent condition and should provide the players with significant challenges due to the Pete Dye design and the typical winds this time of year. It will be entertaining for all to watch.
Steve Trafton, Jay Reynolds, Amy Willis
Students of the game and some of the better amateur players in the area enjoyed watching the players in the short game and putting green area. Steve Trafton and Jay Reynolds, both former Austin City Men’s Championship winners, enjoyed the day and the company of Amy Willis, wife of Matt Wernecke, who is another of Austin’s better amateurs.
Trafton, who was out with his father, is playing less golf and spending more time on the lake while Reynolds is nursing a sore back. Amy says she is cooking and since Matt is the golf coach at Vandergrift, following the golf team adventures. They seemed to be enjoying day.
Buck Mayer, Teri Mahar, Lisa Allen, Charlie Mahar, Bob Whitlock
Local golf professional and Director of Golf Instruction at Escondido, Buck Mayer was out with his wife Tina. Tina is the daughter of Jackson Bradley, who taught at Austin Country Club for years. Jackson played in over two hundred PGA Tour events including 18 major championships. He was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame. His profile is found here this website. It’s worth reading if you have not done so.
Buck is a walking encyclopedia of golf information and always great about sharing his knowledge. Many of the Austin area players have benefited from his knowledge, this author included.
The weather for the week looks good. Hope you have a chance to come out and watch some of the action in person.
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