Watching golf is golden for fans

Stefanie Frith

As senior golfer Bruce Fleisher finished entertaining the crowd around

the Newport Beach Country Club’s first tee Saturday with a baton-like

twirling of his golf club, 71-year-old Dan Jackson laughed and said this

is why he makes a point to attend events like the Toshiba Senior Classic.

“I like to get here early enough so that I can sit here [in the

gallery] and watch them all tee off,” the Corona del Marresident said. “I

can listen to their chatter and see what clubs they are using. It’s fun.

They are great golfers, and I grew up watching them.”

Despite the dreary weather over the last week, thousands of fans came

to the Toshiba Senior Classic to show support for the world-class

golfers. With warmer temperatures toward the end of the week, Saturday

was no exception.

Whether they were there to learn a few new swings by watching the

pros, or just wanted some autographs, fans came from all over California

and beyond to attend. For many of these people, watching golf in person

is a perfect way to spend some free time.

“I admit I didn’t come out on Wednesday because of the rain, but I

have been here every day since,” said Newport Beach resident Patti

Palmer, 71. “I am not a duck. But today is just beautiful and it’s been

such a relaxing way to spend the week and meet new people. I am

determined to get back into golf now.”

For 13-year-olds Rowdy Day and Andrew Slusser of Newport Beach, the

best thing about the golf tournament is, well, getting to attend it.

“I have been twice before, and it’s cool because it’s local and we’ve

played golf for nine and 10 years,” Andrew said. “It’s nice too because

it’s not the PGA [Professional Golf Assn.] tour with Tiger [Woods]

because people go crazy when they see him, and it gets too wild. But here

you can just get advice and watch the seniors play and when you see a

tough shot, you can learn from it.”

Mitch Anderson and Garrett Borggrebe, both 11, said they weren’t as

interested in learning from the players as much as they were in getting

their John Hancock’s.

“We have one so far, from Allen Doyle, but some of the players just

walk by us,” said Garrett, who was grasping a small pad of paper and pen

in his hand as he stood by the gate that led onto the first green. “We

want as many as we can. We love golf.”

Leaning on the white fence surrounding the first green, Don and Zoe

Solsby of Newport Beach said what they love about golf and tournaments is

walking the course.

“It’s so fun to walk around and see the people you know. These are

legends in golf,” Zoe Solsby said, who, earlier, had gasped out loud in

amazement as Lee Trevino teed off. “We started watching them when they

were Tiger [Wood’s] age. This is like having easy access to our heroes.

We are definitely fans.”

Pete Todd, a golfer who is part of the team that won the Classic

Pro-Am tournament earlier in the week, said fans like the Solsbys really

add to a great tournament.

“These fans are very respectful and knowledgeable and help to make

this event great,” Todd said as he watched fellow teammates on the 10th

hole.

Jackson, who could have been quizzed on Jeopardy about the status of

each player in the tournament, said he is just glad there is a seniors

tour in the first place.

“Some of these guys are 60-plus, and they are out there and are doing

great,” the Corona del Mar resident said. “They were pros when I was

younger. So it’s nice to see people like Lee ‘The Flea’ [Trevino] and Tom

Watson, who has been on the tour only recently. But you know, really, I

just like to hear the chatter before they tee off.”