What Does It Take to Run the World’s Largest Golf Tournament? A Look Behind the Scenes

Jeff Monday:

The World Am is legitimately the greatest golfing experience that someone who is just the everyday golfer can do.

David Williams:

The 2023 World Am was the 40th playing of the event and we wanted to do something special. This year we followed the tournament staff from start to finish. From course assignment day to registration, all the way to the end of the flight winners’ playoff. Sit back, relax and follow Scott Tomasello, Ryan Hart, Dylan Hoffman, Ben Dunn and Patrick O’Brien as they take you behind the scenes of the world’s largest golf tournament.

Scott Tomasello:

So this is where we try to identify rotations. There’s four courses that everybody gets to play, so there’s four main goals here. One, we want everybody to have a very similar rotation in terms of course quality. So we don’t have D’s or anything necessarily, but like an A, B, C and D. And then we want to make sure you don’t play the same courses that you played any year previous. So if you were in flight two last year, flight two is not going to get the same four courses.

Driving distance is a big factor. So we give you one in the north, one south and one central and then we’ll call the fourth one of the wild cards, so you’re kind of all equally driving around the beach.

Ryan Hart:

Let’s [inaudible 00:01:19].

Scott Tomasello:

But then we also have to figure out yardages and tees and we found a 20 handicap who’s seven years old, I can’t believe. 7,000 yards obviously so we got to have a tee box that fits every single one of those factors that we just set. So we’re starting with the puzzle. Probably takes us 10 to 12 hours of constant bickering back and forth about [inaudible 00:01:42]. Eventually we’ll get there.

Ben Dunn:

What?

Ryan Hart:

When you move them-

Ben Dunn:

I don’t know.

Dylan Hoffman:

Also think about it, you got River Hills [inaudible 00:01:50].

Ben Dunn:

I mean all these [inaudible 00:01:52].

Ryan Hart:

We only have one barefoot.

Ben Dunn:

Huh?

Ryan Hart:

On a Thursday.

Ben Dunn:

No, we have Barefoot Norman and Barefoot Fazio, it was Thursday, Thursday.

Dylan Hoffman:

[inaudible 00:01:58].

Ben Dunn:

I’m saying this [inaudible 00:01:59] you already have [inaudible 00:02:01] so why not-

Dylan Hoffman:

You’re looking at three of those courses If you do that is what I’m trying-

Ryan Hart:

Is [inaudible 00:02:08].

Dylan Hoffman:

No, that’s Monday, Wednesday.

Patrick O’Brien:

That’s the one people like a lot too.

Ryan Hart:

Yeah, it’s not Thursday.

Dylan Hoffman:

There’s just, a few Thursdays that are left, I don’t know what we’re going to pick too of and make it completely-

Ben Dunn:

That’s why I think [inaudible 00:02:19] man.

Scott Tomasello:

And the 12 hours of constant bickering.

Ryan Hart:

[inaudible 00:02:23] it just takes them out man, it’s not [inaudible 00:02:24].

Scott Tomasello:

Now you’re talking stuff out [inaudible 00:02:29].

Ryan Hart:

You’re talking about [inaudible 00:02:30].

Scott Tomasello:

You’re in the golf business!

Ryan Hart:

I don’t need to know four letter words. Call in Pine Lakes. Ask any of our players that are 3255 [inaudible 00:02:38].

Scott Tomasello:

In Pine.

Ryan Hart:

Hey, ask any of our players if they know what PLO means. I’ll bet more of them [inaudible 00:02:40] than the freaking FDHILA.

Scott Tomasello:

To be Sea Trail, according to this.

Ben Dunn:

Yeah. Then we got Sea Trail right there in yellow.

Dylan Hoffman:

Sea Trail and the Sandpiper.

Ryan Hart:

No, it’s Sandpiper and Sandpiper, Founders and Founders.

Dylan Hoffman:

There’s no Sandpiper right here.

Scott Tomasello:

And the 12 of constant bickering.

Ryan Hart:

Why would we put something on the board that we know we’re not going to leave? That’s crazy talk.

Scott Tomasello:

And the 12 hours of constant bickering.

Ryan Hart:

That’s the whole argument.

Ben Dunn:

That’s the issue.

Ryan Hart:

Yeah, that is the problem.

Dylan Hoffman:

Dylan Hoffman’s [inaudible 00:03:12].

Ryan Hart:

Your mouse skills need some help man. You want try left handed or something?

Scott Tomasello:

And the 12 hours of constant bickering.

Ryan Hart:

Why can’t we just put Kings North with it?

Scott Tomasello:

Because it’s only on Wednesday.

Ryan Hart:

No, it’s on Monday.

Scott Tomasello:

Because Locke’s on Friday, so don’t-

David Williams:

Who argues the most Dylan Hoffman?

Dylan Hoffman:

Ryan Hart for sure and I’m pretty sure he had a set of persimmons until he was 27.

Ryan Hart:

That’s because I hear the most.

David Williams:

Ben Dunn.

Ben Dunn:

I don’t think I need to even answer.

David Williams:

Yeah, you do.

Ben Dunn:

Oh this is tough.

David Williams:

It’s Patrick O’Brien, isn’t it?

Ben Dunn:

Yep.

Scott Tomasello:

[inaudible 00:03:43].

David Williams:

It’s Ben Dunn, isn’t it?

Patrick O’Brien:

Ben Dunn. He’s the most argumentative grandpa ever.

David Williams:

Who argues the most during this?

Ryan Hart:

Well, it’s not even close.

David Williams:

Who is it?

Ryan Hart:

It’s me. You know why? I argue the most because I care the most. I’ve been here the longest. I know what our people say. I know what they want and I don’t want it-

Scott Tomasello:

[inaudible 00:04:01].

Ben Dunn:

All right. You running for president?

Ryan Hart:

I’ve been here longer than Scott.

Scott Tomasello:

That’s, I think the definition-

Ryan Hart:

I’ve had more conversations with our people for more amount of time than Scott has. He’s been here longer.

Scott Tomasello:

I-

So today is our main day to interact with all the host professionals and the superintendents to go through what we expect of them and how they can best succeed during the event. So we just finished up course assignments last week. So now we’re telling the courses what to expect in terms of who’s coming to their courses and what age group, what gender, what handicap and just giving them a lay of the land so they can make us look good.

Brad Crumling:

It’s incredible. We come together as a tight-knit community to host this tournament altogether. GTS does a great job running it from beginning to end, but just to see all the golf courses come together to host one big tournament is really incredible.

Scott Tomasello:

Rows on the blue team, Ams on the white team. Your scorecard should indicate what we have you down for.

Speaker 10:

There you go. One, two Clark. Straight enough.

Patrick O’Brien:

Gas it, real hard.

Speaker 10:

Good.

Ryan Hart:

Don’t say whatever. What’d you just say?

Scott Tomasello:

All of this stuff needs to go south at some point. We’re going there today. Let’s do it today.

Ryan Hart:

No.

Speaker 11:

You guys can bring that-

Ryan Hart:

[inaudible 00:05:38].

Scott Tomasello:

Those bags, those hard cards, these volunteer boxes, they all-

Ryan Hart:

Those are going south with Pat.

Scott Tomasello:

Might as well bring the rest of it with Pat.

David Williams:

Hey, you got duct tape.

Scott Tomasello:

You’re so handy.

David Williams:

What’s this Scott?

Scott Tomasello:

This is going to be a commemorative flag that we will gift to the city as a show of our appreciation for their hospitality for 40 years. So we’re going to have all the players come in and sign it when they check in.

Ben Dunn:

He said the only place that-

Ryan Hart:

Yeah, but he still needs to-

David Williams:

It’s a Jack in the box. Yeah, he asked for it. Yeah. [inaudible 00:06:08].

Ryan Hart:

… because Scott needs to know things.

Ben Dunn:

Okay. For a county cook out too.

Patrick O’Brien:

Oh God.

Ryan Hart:

Oh no. Now it’s in event.

Jon Fritz:

What is all that?

Scott Tomasello:

Yeah. Good to see you.

Jon Fritz:

Wow.

Scott Tomasello:

Good to see you too. How are you?

Jon Fritz:

Is this live?

David Williams:

No.

Ryan Hart:

I’ll tell you what’s happened, the Phillies.

Speaker 13:

Like 20. [inaudible 00:06:25]. So these are your rookie and then you got your five year, which is the red. Apprentice.

Ryan Hart:

This year was definitely [inaudible 00:06:31].

Speaker 13:

Right? And then we got, I don’t know if these are open. Yeah, we got blacks. So our five plus years.

David Williams:

I’m so happy I was recording.

Scott Tomasello:

How you doing?

Speaker 14:

Good and you?

Scott Tomasello:

[inaudible 00:07:16].

David Williams:

Hey, welcome back.

Chad Sullivan:

Thanks man. Good to be back.

David Williams:

It’s good to have you.

Chad Sullivan:

You know, the more things change, the more they stay the same. That’s what I like to say.

Ryan Hart:

Hello sir. Where are you from?

Speaker 16:

Pittsburgh.

Ryan Hart:

Pittsburgh. He’s a Steelers fan, right?

Speaker 16:

[inaudible 00:07:34].

Ryan Hart:

Gosh, I’m sorry.

Scott Tomasello:

Yeah, so there was a time that someone had a little to backup on a part three and in the corner of their eye saw a Bojangles and decided to drive the golf cart right through the drive-through. Still made it back to their tee time. No slowing up.

Ryan Hart:

For anyone who’s watching this video, doing that is automatic disqualification.

David Williams:

How’s it going?

Scott Tomasello:

Smooth sailing so far.

David Williams:

Doing-

Ben Dunn:

It’s going good. Going back to the Bojangles, I don’t-

Ryan Hart:

[inaudible 00:08:00] on.

Ben Dunn:

Hang on, I want to go back to something here. I think he said the disqualification for Bojangles. I don’t know if that’s fair, man. Maybe if it was a Zaxby’s or a McDonald’s.

Jon Fritz:

Takes place back here. You’re not going to see me standing around with all the other guys outside.

Scott Tomasello:

[inaudible 00:08:24].

Ryan Hart:

They’re going to ID you. I know, it’s been a long time for you. I know they do it every time you get a beer, they got to check your age.

Chad Sullivan:

It’ll tell us how many [inaudible 00:08:35] like you said.

Speaker 17:

[inaudible 00:08:39] touch the bottle. That’s right.

Ben Dunn:

Gentleman, how we doing?

Speaker 17:

It should be more like how many bottles?

Scott Tomasello:

So who’s got the side of who’s [inaudible 00:08:48].

Ben Dunn:

Someone is taking the chicken nuggets out of the chicken minis. There’s a psychopath on the loose.

David Williams:

I had a regular chicken mini.

Ben Dunn:

They’re taking the nuggets out and leaving the bread. That is not okay. Day one.

David Williams:

Pardon the interruption folks. A quick break here to give a huge thank you to Grand Strand Coastal Realty and The Hangout at Broadway for bringing back the World Am welcome party. Now, back to the video.

Speaker 18:

Yeah. I know you play nice.

Speaker 19:

Coordination’s [inaudible 00:09:19].

Speaker 20:

Like the second though, 1179.

Patrick O’Brien:

This one, different number. There’s all the ones that we have. There’s that one and there’s that one. 7.9.

Ryan Hart:

Barely.

Ben Dunn:

Not everybody gets to play a ton of golf, but I do know that you’ve played at the golf tournament both of the last two years you’ve played four rounds.

Ryan Hart:

Which kind of defeats the purpose of the 16. I don’t know what that comes out to as a differential. I haven’t had a chance to run, I don’t even know.

[inaudible 00:10:49].

David Williams:

Call out a number like that, what are you doing?

Scott Tomasello:

Calling out a player ID number for anybody who’s showed exceptional scoring for the day.

Jon Fritz:

[inaudible 00:11:04] 2160812212 [inaudible 00:11:04].

Scott Tomasello:

So that’s when we start the investigative process of each player.

David Williams:

Hey Jon. What is this room?

Speaker 21:

This is the figuring out the logistics of getting everyone’s rain checks properly delivered for their fourth round that we have sadly had to cancel. So figuring out, we’re having a long day driving tomorrow, delivering these to all the golf courses.

Speaker 22:

I’m surprised that number seven made this team. You said it best if number seven, if Brooks didn’t make this team, it was going to be politics. Number seven’s supposed to be on the team.

Speaker 23:

Well, I wonder now with Thursday with, well, I’ll pop in tomorrow too, but-

Speaker 21:

Yeah, there will be less [inaudible 00:11:48] just because of the fact there’s less rounds.

Scott Tomasello:

[inaudible 00:11:53]. Mr. Jim Kechak, Crishade. I apologize. Mr. Dan Keel, Mr. Wayne Strobe, Mr. Jim Melvin, Mr. Mike Cameron, Mr. Holland Watkins.

Speaker 24:

[inaudible 00:12:14].

Speaker 25:

Get in, close.

Speaker 24:

Closer.

Speaker 26:

And you too travel very well-

It’s in her hands. Please welcome Arris Darrins on his this lifetime achieved in award. Thank you so much for your countless hours and your dedication to making this event-

Speaker 27:

[inaudible 00:12:37] 5,000 players.

Speaker 26:

It’s a long space for that day. Now he’ll remain under surveillance got two more years because every few months, full body scans every six months. But through all of that, he is a champion here at Myrtle Beach and he’s crying. Tonight we thank this man for the laughs for his service and for making us so appreciative of his efforts. Charlie, it’s an honor on behalf of all of us to present you with the Ambassador Appreciation Award and in our opinion, the most valuable.

Yeah, so before I start tearing up, I’m going to grab a tissue. This concludes our first ever award show. Raise our glass to [inaudible 00:13:40] everyone-

(singing).

Ryan Hart:

I don’t know. I have it pending on couldn’t tell at the go.

Scott Tomasello:

I don’t know how many statements. [inaudible 00:14:26].

Patrick O’Brien:

Give that guy bonus. So go clear scores, except gross.

David Williams:

How are you feeling about Friday?

Scott Tomasello:

Friday, I’m feeling good because I know Grande Dunes is working very hard or getting ready to work very hard. I know they got a great maintenance team and I’m pretty sure that if we could be anywhere on Friday to be dry or to recover from a storm like this, Grande Dunes is the place to be.

Ryan Hart:

To go completely dark with 5,000 people in a place is probably not good.

David Williams:

No way. You’re kidding me. Oh, boo.

Brad Crumling:

How y’all doing?

Ryan Hart:

You know I’m starting, I said, how about that? That’s what I said. He said, I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong.

Patrick O’Brien:

You are?

Ryan Hart:

Yeah.

Patrick O’Brien:

Once again.

Ryan Hart:

[inaudible 00:15:41].

Ben Dunn:

This is Ramona one. This is the handicap discussion room with tournament staff.

David Williams:

So what goes on here?

Ben Dunn:

Everything goes on here.

Ryan Hart:

You said that?

Patrick O’Brien:

Yeah.

Ben Dunn:

A lot of passionate conversations, a lot of informational conversations, a lot of good stuff. So highs, lows, upset, happy, smiles, frowns, all the good stuff happens right in here.

Jon Fritz:

Welcome to the 19th Hole.

Speaker 21:

Won’t be on this side because usually I just, working at a golf course taking passes and I come in here and enjoy the patron side of it. So seeing this side of it’s almost cooler.

David Williams:

How’s your week been, Kyle?

Kyle:

It’s been easy, man. I used to run around and handle all the social. Now I just make sure people go on stage. It’s the easiest job ever.

Speaker 29:

Turn, turn, turn. [inaudible 00:17:00].

David Williams:

Final day.

Scott Tomasello:

Final day. Save the best weather for last.

Ryan Hart:

Of course.

David Williams:

Yep.

Scott Tomasello:

It’s almost a little chilly out.

David Williams:

Last day.

Speaker 30:

Last day.

Speaker 21:

You can probably tell how tired I am. I probably don’t look awake, that’s for sure.

David Williams:

I don’t think any of us are awake by this point in the week.

Speaker 21:

It’s been a long week.

David Williams:

Almost over.

Speaker 31:

Bu that’s, it’s going to be the excuse every time.

Speaker 32:

Yeah, because they’re buying-

Speaker 33:

Wow.

Speaker 34:

Pleasure playing [inaudible 00:18:11].

David Williams:

Did you lose your wedge?

Patrick O’Brien:

No.

David Williams:

How’s it going?

Ben Dunn:

It’s going good. Got about three or four groups in aside I think. Pat’s going a little bit faster than me right now. I’ve got a few less but it’s going good. Beautiful day. Dry day. Thankfully.

David Williams:

Pat lost his wedge.

Patrick O’Brien:

Yeah.

David Williams:

Yeah.

Ben Dunn:

He did lose a wedge there. Tell me that head cover doesn’t go with the wedge.

Patrick O’Brien:

Of course it does. They both go in the-

Ben Dunn:

[inaudible 00:18:44]. Card’s all good?

Speaker 35:

Yep.

Ben Dunn:

You guys can just all hang out here in a minute while I get them put in.

Speaker 35:

Sure.

Patrick O’Brien:

Thanks for watching, see you in 2025.

Thanks for watching. See you in 2024.