U.S. Open Championship @ Pebble Beach

I know some of you are jealous, and I don't blame you. It's not every day that someone is picked to volunteer at the U.S. Open golf championship ... and assigned to the player shuttles committee, no less.

That was my exact thought last year when I came across the U.S. Open website and clicked on the link to submit a volunteer application. They'll never pick me, I thought when I hit send, I mean, I live about 2,588 miles from Pebble Beach, California, I am in my 20s (albeit late 20s) and I am a newspaper reporter. They won't want a person like me volunteering at an official USGA championship.

The application specifically said that each person who sent in an application was not guaranteed a spot as a volunteer. Individuals chosen are assigned to one of 20 committees — like player shuttles, ticket takers, scoreboard keeper — and are asked to work at least four six-hour shifts.

Imagine my surprise when, a few months later, I received an e-mail saying I had been accepted as a volunteer. A flurry of correspondence kicked off then. I had to submit to a background check, a driving history check, pick three committee assignments to be considered for and a host of other stuff.

The next surprise came when they notified me I had been assigned to the player shuttles committee. Score! You are reading the words of the girl who will be golf carting a portion of the 156 players from the clubhouse to the 10th tee. I'll be rubbing elbows with some of the world's best golfers. Unfortunately, I think the only time I'll be "rubbing elbows" with them, literally, is if the golf cart jostles us around. I don't expect them to be very chatty. Too bad cell phones and cameras aren't allowed on the course during the championship otherwise I'd be snapping pictures like it's my job. Oh, wait, it is ... part of my job, at least.

As for my uniform, I was sent two polo shirts designed specifically for the 110th U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach: a logoed windbreaker, vest and visor (which I had to pay for *grumble*). And, I am responsible for my airfare and lodging. Kakhi pants complete the uniform. Pants of "appropriate length." And, get this, they sent a swatch that I had to match the kakhi color to. It's all so bland. The polo shirts have thin red and navy blue horizontal stripes over white and combined with the light kakhi ... Boring! But, I remedied that real quick. I found a pair of red spikeless golf shoes to wear on the course, and boy, do they pop.

I have a credential valid for all seven days of the championship so I can get onto the course on the days I'm not volunteering. This is the 5th time Pebble Beach has hosted the U.S. Open.

I like to play golf, though I am not very good. I get bored watching it on TV but I know seeing it up close and personal will be a different story. And, the course? Fuhgedaboutit.

Keep checking back here for updates, and follow me on Twitter. The name is "haleyeah."

I'll tell Tiger you said hello.


Some U.S. Open fun facts:

• Nearly 15,000 bleacher seats will be constructed and installed
• 15,000 pounds of salad served
• 200,000 prawns, 850 pounds of smoked salmon and 55,000 pounds of beef will be prepared and served
• 180,000 servings of beer will be sold in the concessions
• Approximately 6 miles of fencing will be installed around the championship grounds
• 4,500 volunteers across 32 committees will donate their energies to the success of the event
• 1,500 media from 40 countries anticipated to be on site to cover the event