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Contact the
Standard Bearers' Tent @ 210-690-7825
Office Phone 210-977-3798
Cell: 210-860-3547
Last Update: 15 October 2008 @ 1840
2008 Standard Bearers Guidelines
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THANK YOU to all of our loyal and wonderful volunteers for making this an outstanding tournament You MUST check in NO LATER THAN 60 minutes prior to the Tee-time assigned. If you have not checked-in 20 minutes prior to the posted Tee-time, it will be given to an alternate. |
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1. What is a Standard Bearer?
A. From the
spectator's standpoint, golf is a great deal different from other sports, and
hence more difficult to watch. Most other
sports are played in an arena or otherwise well-defined area. All of the action takes place before the
spectator's eyes. In golf, however, the
activity is spread out over one hundred or more acres. It is physically impossible for the spectator
to keep up with all that is going on.
B.
It is the duty, then, of the Standard Bearer, Scoring and Communications
Committees to keep the spectators and members of the media well informed as to
what is taking place on all the various parts of the golf course. Standard Bearer’s are a useful tool in
keeping spectators informed as to how the players are performing. The Standard Bearer walks with the group of
Golf Pros during a tournament and carries a Standard (sign) displaying the
pro's score in relation to par. The Standard Bearer's sole purpose is to display the score
to the gallery. Therefore, a Standard Bearer
should have some knowledge of golf, should be able to walk 18 holes and present
a professional demeanor.
C.
What is so special about being a Standard Bearer? Being a Standard Bearer gives you the
absolute best seat in the house to watch golf.
True, you only get to see one group, but you get to meet them and walk
behind the ropes with them during their entire round!
2. What is required to be a Standard Bearer
PARtner (volunteer)?
As a PARtner,
you must walk a minimum of three (3) rounds, to complete your volunteer
obligations. This can be during one the
three Pro-Ams or during the four days of the tournament. There is a $25.00 PARtner fee that covers a
2008 Valero Texas Open golf shirt, a Valero Texas Open hat, a visitor's pass to
the tournament, and a parking pass at Six Flags. And if you meet the PARtners minimum
requirements, you will receive a free round of golf at La Cantera.
3. Why do it?
The
Valero Texas Open is a PGA sanctioned event, which showcases professional
golf. More importantly, the tournament
raises money for
4. When, where, and how many People are needed?
PARtners are needed each day of the tournament to carry the
“standards” and to work inside the tent.
The total number of PARtners needed by the Standard Bearers committee is
between 76 to 105. These numbers are based
if each PARtners carries 4 rounds (76) or 3 rounds (105).
Day
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Format |
Minimum People |
Alternates |
Inside Tent
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Total
People |
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Mon., Oct 1st |
1:00PM* Shotgun Start Pro-Am |
28 |
3** |
4 |
35 |
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Wed, Oct 3rd |
07:45AM* Shotgun Start Pro-Am |
27 |
3** |
4 |
34 |
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Wed, Oct 3rd |
1:15PM* Shotgun Start Pro-Am |
27 |
3** |
4 |
34 |
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Thur, Oct 4th |
Off the 1st and 10th at 9 minute intervals |
44 |
3** |
4 |
51 |
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Fri, Oct 5th |
Off the 1st and 10th at 9 minute intervals |
44 |
3** |
4 |
51 |
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Sat, Oct 6th |
Everyone should be off the 1st tee |
26-40*** |
4** |
4 |
34-48 |
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Sun, Oct 7th |
Everyone should be off the 1st tee |
26-40*** |
4** |
4 |
34-48 |
* Shotgun start times are subject to change
** If you are designated as an alternate and don't get out, it will
be counted as if you carried a round
*** Number in the field depends on the cut.
*** Number of Volunteers based upon twosomes. If threesomes are used, approximately 28
volunteers will be needed on the weekend.
Also 4-5 PARtners are needed to work
inside the tent each day for each shift.
I would like to be able to schedule people for a 4-6 hours shift
inside. These PARtners will be
responsible for checking in and out the signs (standards), tearing-down or
building new standards, double-checking pouches, running PARtners out to the
tee-box, and various other duties required to make the tournament run smoothly.
5. How do we assign who goes out when?
A. There are
people who have carried for many years but I do not work on a seniority system
of assignments. I assign people in an
arbitrary method for the three Pro-Ams, and for Thursday's and Friday's
rounds. Before any of the pairings are
published, I assign times or you can sign up for an approximate tee time. I try to accommodate people who have
scheduling conflicts but I cannot guarantee you a certain tee time because you
found out it is one of the big name players.
B.
What is so special about working a Pro-Am tournament? The Pro-Am tournaments bring in a lot of
money from corporate sponsors. And in
exchange, the corporations get a foursome to play a round of golf with a
professional golfer. The amateur golfers
ride in carts whereas either the Pro or his caddie must walk. In most cases, the Pro will walk so it is
usually just the Pro, the scorer and the Standard Bearer walking. This gives you a lot of face time with the
Pro. And since there is no money on the
line during the Pro-Ams, the Pro is usually more relaxed and friendly.
6. How do we assign the Weekend Tee times?
A. As all of
you golfers know, the PGA Tour has a cut after Fridays round to 70 players plus
ties. Since there will be fewer groups
going out, we need fewer Standard Bearers.
If you worked two of the three Pro-Ams (Monday and Wednesday AM/PM), I
will make every effort that you get a round on the weekend. There are no guarantees you will work on the
weekend. With approximately 80 slots
available for the weekend you might not win in the lottery system. Last year, the PGA Tour changed the weekend
pairings to threesomes on Saturday then twosomes on Sunday and cut the number
of Standard Bearers to 52. This upset
many PARtners because they thought they were going to work the weekend.
B.
Once again, there is an arbitrary system of assigning PARtners to tee
times during the week. For the weekend,
a lottery system is used where you get your name in the hopper based upon how
many times you have carried for the week.
Pro-Ams are worth two chances; Tournament rounds are worth one chance
for each round worked. If you carried
twice in one day, two extra chances are given in the lottery. You will also receive lottery chances for
helping out inside and in the evening when we build signs for the next round.
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Monday Pro-Am |
2 chances |
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Weds AM Pro-Am |
2 chances |
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Weds PM Pro-Am |
2 chances |
2 extra chances for
working 2 rounds on Weds |
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Thurs Tournament |
1 chance |
2 extra chances for working
2 rounds on Thurs |
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Fri Tournament |
1 chance |
2 extra chances for
working 2 rounds on Friday |
You MUST
work 2-3 rounds during the week
The
lottery takes place on Friday night, before any pairings are announced, I will
draw a random tee time. I then draw a
name for that tee time. This process
continues until all of the Sunday times are filled then I fill Saturday’s
times. Each time your name is drawn, if
you had an early time and I draw your name again, I put you in for the later
tee time (closer to the leaders).
Usually the later tee times are players who are in contention.
C. I will also be drawing
alternates. Every year I've worked, I’ve
needed alternates to fill in. Check-in
time is 60 minutes prior to your tee time. If someone has not checked in 20 minutes prior to his
or her assigned
tee time, I will take the first alternate and assign him or her to the group. I don't care if you have Tiger Woods and you were
late because you saved the President's life, I’m going to give the time to the
first alternate if you have not checked in before 20 minutes prior to your tee time. I will not be moving
everyone up a tee time to cover for someone not checked in. It is unfair to the PARtners who have the
late tee times.
7. Where to park and where do we check-in?
Everyone will
be parking in the Six Flags parking lot in an area reserved for PARtner's
parking. You will catch a shuttle bus up
to the La Cantera Clubhouse. The Standard Bearers will be in an air-conditioned tent next to the
driving range. Please allow 30 minutes
or more for the trip from Six Flags parking lot to the Club House. The buses leave at regular intervals but
expect delays.
8. What to wear:
A. You must wear
the 2008 Valero Texas Open PARtner shirt, hat and badge. You must wear Khaki slacks or shorts. If you wear the shorts, they will be hemmed
"Dockers" style shorts. It is
best to wear very comfortable tennis shoes.
If you have never walked La Cantera, then let me warn you; there are
only two directions. Uphill or
downhill! You are not allowed to
wear golf shoes. This includes golf
shoes with soft spikes.
B. When you check in and get your tee time, you
will need to verify your number pouch.
The pouch has the letter "E" for even par and the numbers zero
through nine. On one side the numbers
are black (for above par) and the
other side they are red (below par). You must check and
ensure all of the numbers are in the pouch.
The number six and nine is on the same card depending on which end is
up.
C.
If you get to the first tee box and find you have problems with the name
on the standard being wrong, have the tee box marshal call the Standard Bearer
tent and let us know. They will be able
to call us on the radio (channel 2). If
you are out on the course and have a problem with a broken standard, missing
numbers or anything else, have a marshal call us on the radio or on the phone.
9. What to do when you are working:
A. To emphasis
this again, You MUST check in 60 minutes prior to the Tee-time assigned.
B.
If you have not checked-in twenty
(20) minutes prior to the Tee-time your tee-time will be given to the first
alternate. If you arrive after the 20-minute dead line,
you will be place after the last alternate on the list for the day.
C.
Prior to leaving the Standard Bearer tent, you will have to ensure you
have the correct names and you have a complete pouch. Approximately 15 minutes prior to you
tee-time, you will need to check with the Standard Bearer assistant and then
head out to the tee-box.
D. Once there, unless your group is on the tee
box ready to go, stand off to the side of the tee box. Please be aware of the spectators and try not
to block anyone's view of the players on the tee box. Once your group appears and enters the tee
box, you then can stand on the tee box.
Most of the time, the tee box marshal will introduce you and the scorer
to each of the pros. They will announce
the player and he will tee off. Your
best bet is to stay over to the side where the caddies stand. During the round, you should always try to
stand where the caddies stand since they know where their pro wants them to
stand. This is usually in front or back
of the pro.
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E. The golf course is the Pro's office.
Remember, this is what they do for a living so do not go out of your way to
talk to the Pros. You can give them a
polite "Good Morning" or "Good Afternoon" but do not try
and engage them in a conversation.
Sometime during play, the Pro may walk up to you and start a
conversation, then by all means talk to him.
This is the same with the caddies; if they start the conversation, go
for it. But let them start it first.
F. After the pro(s) have hit their tee shot and
are walking down the fairway, carry the standard upright, with the pro's name
and score over your head facing the gallery.
As you are walking down the fairway and the gallery is to the right and
the left, have the standard turned so they can read the sign. Walk behind the pros and let them set the
pace of how fast they want to walk.
Unless told by the pro or his caddie, never walk ahead of the group.
G.
When walking up to the green, until everyone is on the green, stay in
the fairway with the standard held up.
Once everyone is on the green, you can move to where the hole scorekeeper
is located (sitting) and stand next to them.
When the pros are putting, you may drop the sign down from above your
head.
Never lay the standard down flat on the grass or ever leave
it unattended. Many of the signs have excess glue from the
lettering. When you lay the sign down,
dirt and grass will stick to the sign.
H.
Your duty as a Standard Bearer is to display to the gallery what the
pro's score is. Keep in contact with the
walking scorer to ensure that what you have on the standard is correct. If at any time the pro or his caddie tells
you that the score is wrong, change it.
If the walking scorer tells you that they are wrong, do not change. Go with what the pro or his caddie said and
tell the scorer why you are not changing it.
True, the pro or caddie may be wrong, but it is not our place to tell
them so.
I.
At each of the tee boxes, there will be things to drink and to eat
(fruit, granola bars, etc.). When you
are working as a Standard Bearer, you are allowed to eat and drink the
offerings at the tee-boxes. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS! Don’t wait until you fill thirsty, keep
drinking fluids throughout the round.
J. While working as a Standard Bearer, you are
allowed to use the “Pros Only” restrooms.
These restrooms are for the pro’s entourage, which includes the scorer’s
and the standard bearers.
K. At the end of the round, the pro or the
caddie might give you something (ball or glove) in the way of saying
thanks. The proper time to ask for an
autograph is after they have finished with their round and the scoring. Please do not ask for autographs when you are
working. Do not hang around after the
end of your round and try and get autographs from other groups. Return to the standard bearer tent.
L.
Once you have completed your round, bring the standard back to the tent
and check in with the Standard Bearer assistant working there. Follow the instructions of the person
checking you in. Each day there will be
different ways to check out after your round.
PLEASE follow the instructions.
This will allow for quicker turn-around times.
10. Other things:
A. Remember
that you are a volunteer and that at no time are you to be mistreated by any
member of the GSA, PGA Tour, La Cantera or any other staff member. If you feel that you are being mistreated,
bring this to my attention and I will deal with it.
B.
If at anytime, you have an idea to make the Standard Bearers work, let
me know. I’m a volunteer just like the
rest of you, and open to any ideas that may make the job easier. Please have fun while working and when you
are not working, enjoy all of the festivities.
Proper ways to carry or hold
the “standard”.
P L E A S E DON’T
let anyone catch you carrying the standard like the below!