BEHIND THE SCENES

Mathis Winkler

* NAME: Karen Knoche

* HOME: Newport Beach

* JOB TITLE: Chairwoman of walking scores

* SHE IS: In charge of the people who keep track of scores and

statistics for the pros.

* DAILY DUTIES: While Knoche doesn’t actually walk the green herself,

she creates schedules and ensures there are enough walking scorers on

hand.

“If we have no-shows, I hustle up some other people,” she said. “Or I

go on the course myself . . . I’m dying to do it.”

To do the job, volunteers need to have a basic knowledge about golf

and be physically able to walk the course for more than four hours.

“That eliminates some people,” Knoche said.

A golf player herself, that’s not an issue for Knoche. She tries to

get out to Newport Beach Country Club twice a week before starting work

as a real estate agent.

She knows that the pros will beat her for certain, but among the

amateurs, who participated in this week’s pro-am tournament, “I’ve seen

some amateurs that I could soundly trump,” she said.

* DID YOU KNOW: Knoche’s husband Gary also volunteers for the

tournament and oversees the placing of green side scores.

So who’s the better player?

“I’m not going to tell,” Knoche said. “I might be. Let’s just say I

have a lower handicap.”