US Open 2014

Well, after years and years of planning on the Village of Pinehurst's part, the 2014 US Open has officially begun! We've been victim to the insane amount of road construction, landscaping, remodeling, painting, advertising, and general melee that's been kicked into high gear for the last couple of months that we've lived here, so although I'm not much of a golf fan (but in all fairness my family is) I've even been caught up in all of the excitement as well!

 Dear Doc Bradley (Jon's office mate at the Air Force base and general VIP-hook-up-guy) offered Jon two tickets to Thursday's events and without hesitation I made him accept! I was dying to go! When else can you claim the US Open took place in your backyard??

 Although the tickets were good all day long, unfortunately Jon didn't get home from work until around 3 p.m. (had to pay taxes). We booked it over to Pinehurst course no. 2 just in time to watch some of the later foursomes tee off. 

 Jon posing in front of the famous "Putter Boy" statue and Merchandise Pavilion. It's crazy unless you live here and actually have a point of reference, but ALL of this-- from the brick walkways to the tents and ticket entrances, to the concessions stands, viewer grandstands, and parking lots, were not here 6 months ago. It was literally just another golf course. They've built all of this just for the Open and the 50,000 tourists who've come to spend moola!! 

 True to Southern Living there were rocking chairs to sit down in and enjoy an ice cold sweet tea (or lemonade in our case) as you watched play at the different holes.

Since we didn't have much time, we camped out at a spot near the end of the 10th hole, and tee box for the 11th hole. It. Was. HOT. And HUMID. Oh my! We were melting in the 90 degree heat, in the shade, at 5 p.m. I can't imagine the players who had to play in the middle of the day! 

 Broader view of hole 11. Although we didn't get to see Phil Mickelsen since he golfed in the morning, we saw Kevin Na and Dustin Johnson.

 Pinehurst no. 2 selfie! (View of holes 5 and 6)

 We also got to see the Good Year blimp circling the skies of Pinehurst which is probably about as rare as a solar eclipse. Exciting times for little ol' Pinehurst!

And a special thanks to my friend Nicole for watching our kids so we could go!! I tried six different babysitters before giving up (everyone was either out of town or already had gigs) and begging Nicole to watch them for us. Good thing they had fun!