World Am 2021: Charlie Rymer Checks In with the Ladies at Wachesaw East

Martie Weaver:

I have to say I’m originally from Pennsylvania, but I’ve been in South Carolina for about 23 years now.

Charlie Rymer:

What do you think about South Carolina?

Martie Weaver:

I love it. I absolutely love it. It brought me to golf.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah, great.

Martie Weaver:

A lot of friends. I’m very active in the South Carolina Women’s Golf Association, and Myrtle Beach is the absolute best place to be to play golf.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah, yeah, it is.

Martie Weaver:

Yeah.

Charlie Rymer:

No doubt about it. They don’t call it “The Golf Capital of the World” for nothing.

Martie Weaver:

No, that’s right. That’s right.

Charlie Rymer:

Okay, so you’ve been here from Pennsylvania for 20 years. Have you tried grits yet? You worked up the courage?

Martie Weaver:

Mm-hmm (affirmative). Yes, I like grits, but they have to have cheese in them.

Charlie Rymer:

Butter?

Martie Weaver:

Butter and salt.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah, that does it. Yeah, that does it. Yeah. The first time you tried them, did you think, “I just got no chance?”

Martie Weaver:

Yeah. Yeah, that’s right. That’s right.

Charlie Rymer:

Or, was it love at first shot?

Martie Weaver:

No, it wasn’t love at first shot-

Charlie Rymer:

Got to work into it.

Martie Weaver:

… but when I moved here, I came here by myself, and I thought, “Well, grits aren’t going to kill me.”

Charlie Rymer:

Okay. Okay. Tell me a little bit about your golf game.

Martie Weaver:

All right.

Charlie Rymer:

Is this the first time you’ve played in the World Am?

Martie Weaver:

No, this is actually the second time.

Charlie Rymer:

Okay.

Martie Weaver:

I played in 2018, I think.

Charlie Rymer:

Yep. How’d you do?

Martie Weaver:

I did all right. I think I placed 11th in my flight or something like that, which was good for me because I try to … My goal this week is to be in the top 20.

Charlie Rymer:

There you go.

Martie Weaver:

But we’ll see. I don’t have lofty goals.

Charlie Rymer:

How’s your game right now? You going to get there?

Martie Weaver:

I think I’m going to get there. Yes.

Charlie Rymer:

You think you’re going to get there-

Martie Weaver:

I try-

Charlie Rymer:

… or do you know you’re going to get there?

Martie Weaver:

Ask me in, like I said, four hours, four and a half, maybe five hours.

Charlie Rymer:

See, that’s your problem. I’m-

Martie Weaver:

I’ll tell you if I’m going to get there.

Charlie Rymer:

I’m asking you now. That’s your problem.

Martie Weaver:

I’m going to get there.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah, there you go! In golf-

Martie Weaver:

I know. I keep forgetting-

Charlie Rymer:

… you got to believe before you achieve.

Martie Weaver:

… I pay to play.

Charlie Rymer:

Wonderful. Best of luck. Thank you.

Martie Weaver:

Thank you.

Charlie Rymer:

Have a great time.

Martie Weaver:

I appreciate it. It’s great meeting you.

Charlie Rymer:

Nice meeting you.

Martie Weaver:

Thank you.

Charlie Rymer:

Sue, tell me. Where are you from?

Sue Bennett:

Originally grew up in South Jersey-

Charlie Rymer:

Okay.

Sue Bennett:

… and split my time between northern Vermont and southern Delaware.

Charlie Rymer:

Oh, wow. That’s beautiful, and you’re splitting your time there right now?

Sue Bennett:

Yes.

Charlie Rymer:

Okay, great. How many World Ams have you played in?

Sue Bennett:

I believe this is the seventh one. I didn’t come down last year, but as soon as I retired, it was on my bucket list.

Charlie Rymer:

What’d you retire from?

Sue Bennett:

A senior state veterinarian with the New Jersey Racing Commission.

Charlie Rymer:

Oh, wow. I bet that was a fun job. I love the horses. Yeah, yeah.

Sue Bennett:

Yeah, it was fun. Yeah.

Charlie Rymer:

That’s awesome. Okay. What’s your best finish in your seven World Ams?

Sue Bennett:

Two years ago, I won my flight-

Charlie Rymer:

Atta girl!

Sue Bennett:

… and played in the finals.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah. What do you remember most from winning your flight and playing in the finals?

Sue Bennett:

Just how exciting it was and how proud I am of it.

Charlie Rymer:

That’s great.

Sue Bennett:

I’m so proud of that. I’ve won, yeah, some club championships, but this I’m the most proud of.

Charlie Rymer:

Over these years playing, have you met some friends that you maybe stay in contact with outside of this week?

Sue Bennett:

Absolutely.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah.

Sue Bennett:

Yep. I have a friend in Nebraska, somebody else in Virginia. Yes. Yes. It’s wonderful.

Charlie Rymer:

Okay, so this is my most important question. How’s your game right now? You playing any good?

Sue Bennett:

Of course. You have to have a positive attitude.

Charlie Rymer:

Right? You’ve won your flight before.

Sue Bennett:

Yeah.

Charlie Rymer:

I mean, are you the player to beat?

Speaker 4:

[crosstalk 00:03:03].

Charlie Rymer:

Hey, hey. Are you the player to beat?

Sue Bennett:

I don’t know about that because they changed the flights.

Charlie Rymer:

Oh, okay.

Sue Bennett:

Now, I’m in the senior women.

Charlie Rymer:

Oh, okay.

Sue Bennett:

Yeah, but still got game, trying hard.

Charlie Rymer:

Well, I love the confidence. I love the smile on your face. Thank you for your time, and have a great World Am!

Sue Bennett:

Oh, thank you so much.

Charlie Rymer:

Appreciate it.

Sue Bennett:

Thank you for coming here because you make it special, too.

Charlie Rymer:

Well, my pleasure. Thank you.

Sue Bennett:

Thank you.

Charlie Rymer:

How many World Ams have you played in?

Desi Johnson:

This is my fifth.

Charlie Rymer:

What’s your best that you’ve done in terms of the competition?

Desi Johnson:

13th.

Charlie Rymer:

Sounds like you’re tracking it pretty closely.

Desi Johnson:

I am. I am. I intend to do better every year.

Charlie Rymer:

Well, Desi, I had a chance to watch you warm up over there. You’re smoking it! I mean, you’re absolutely striping it. How do you think you’re playing right now?

Desi Johnson:

I always play the driving range very well.

Charlie Rymer:

I-

Desi Johnson:

If I can take it to the course, I’m in.

Charlie Rymer:

I understand. What’s the best part of your game?

Desi Johnson:

Best part of my game is I have fun. I have fun. I would say it’s my determination around the green. I’m going to get it close and get it in if I can.

Charlie Rymer:

Now, this event is a competition, but fun’s a big part of it. Any advice for your fellow competitors out there in terms of how to mix the fun and the competition, so they walk away feeling good about it?

Desi Johnson:

Yeah, you’ve got to remember we’ve got people from all over the world here to play and have a good time in beautiful South Carolina, Myrtle Beach, and we can’t take it too serious, but we all want to win, and if we help each other win, we’ll all get to the finish.

Charlie Rymer:

I’m going to give you an amen on that, and I got to finish with this is one heck of a golf bag. How you get 14 clubs in that little thing?

Desi Johnson:

Well, it’s a secret. I say abracadabra, kazam, kazam. We got to go to the driving range, and they all fit in, and they all come out. This has been the greatest savior. I haven’t lost a club in months since I got the champ bag.

Charlie Rymer:

I’m going to have to check one of these out. That looks beautiful!

Desi Johnson:

You should check that out. It is. That shows you. You don’t need a pro bag. This is my pro bag.

Charlie Rymer:

Well, good luck.

Desi Johnson:

It’s got what I need.

Charlie Rymer:

Good luck, Desi, with your pro bag.

Desi Johnson:

All right. All right.

Charlie Rymer:

Thank you very much.

Desi Johnson:

Thank you very much.

Charlie Rymer:

Have a great time!