By: Trey Mayer, First Tee – Phoenix

I have attended the WM Phoenix Open for three years now. Usually I am first in line for the “Running of the Bulls” to the iconic 16th hole. Today I got to learn behind the scenes and what takes place to run the “Greatest Show on Grass.” We interviewed members of The Thunderbirds, Scottsdale Police Department, and professional reporters to learn about what they do. I see so many people who use the First Tee Values and Key Commitments to make this tournament great.

We spoke to some of The Thunderbirds: Tim Louis, Kenny Coakley, and Jason Pritchett. Tim Louis is a starter this week and I asked him how he prepares to pronounce the players’ names. He told us that the PGA Tour gives them a list of the phonetic spellings of the names. If that does not work, he has to trust his fellow starters or ask the player how to pronounce their name. Knowing how to announce the players correctly shows professionalism and the First Tee value of Courtesy. Kenny Coakley runs the House and Grounds which manages the Open’s sky boxes and other edifices. Coakley informed us that he holds people to high standards when it comes to respecting the game of golf. First Tee places the value of Respect at the utmost importance. We all know how enjoyable this tournament can be, but we all must remember we are here to watch and celebrate this game in a respectful manner. Jason Pritchett is the head of the famous Greenskeeper suite. I asked Pritchett how they prepare for this tournament every year. He told us how crucial teamwork and a Commitment of Collaborating with Others is to making this tournament come to life. Pritchett emphasizes the need for flexibility, pointing out that “Plan B is often better than Plan A” which aligns with our Key Commitment of Growing Through Challenge. Our conversations with The Thunderbirds highlight how our First Tee Values and Key Commitments make this tournament special.

The Scottsdale Police Department surveys and protects the tournament grounds and patrons. We spoke to members of the K-9 and Bike Units. Detective Sarabia spoke on crowd control and sweeping the area with the dogs. We got to meet and pet one of the cute, floppy-eared dogs, Skaut. The Scottsdale Police Department put lots of emphasis on teamwork and trust to make the tournament run smoothly.

Later in the day we got access to the driving range and watched the player’s warm up before their round. At the range went met Mr. Harmin, a reporter for African-American Golf Digest. He gave us insights on how reporting can spread a message and bring attention to minorities. Mr. Harmin shared incredible tips on how to engage with professional golfers. He introduced us to Ryan Palmer on the range before his round. We asked Ryan what the best advice he had been given was and he said “have fun!” It is awesome to see that at the end of the day, the golfers realize that it is a game and meant to be fun.

Today, we discovered that having great preparation, respect, and being ready for anything makes the WM Phoenix Open possible.