Local volunteers for PGA event watch best at arm’s length

During Tuesday’s practice round, Amber Pasel could have reached out and touched the players on the ninth hole at the BMW Championship in Carmel.

Views don’t get much better than that for an avid golf fan, which is why she didn’t pass up the opportunity to volunteer for the high-profile PGA Tour event at Crooked Stick Golf Club.

An assistant golf professional at Hickory Stick Golf Club, Pasel — and Hickory Stick head professional Keith Clark — are serving as volunteer marshals on the ninth tee. Both are members of the PGA Indiana Section, which is providing volunteers for the tournament.

As marshals, Pasel’s and Clark’s responsibilities include keeping the crowd quiet and pointing the direction where balls are heading.

Pasel, who will work Saturday’s and Sunday’s rounds, got her first taste of being inside the ropes on Tuesday, when she got up-close looks at many of her favorite players, including Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Bubba Watson.

She watched their swings and listened to the interaction between players and caddies.

“We were so close to the caddies that we could hear what they were telling the players, what they discussed with the players,” Pasel said. “It was neat to see what they thought was important.”

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