Metro

Close To The Action

Knollwood members volunteer at Ryder Cup matches.

't 44

HARRY KIRS BAUM
StaffWriter

A

Ian Harvith wishes all Knollwood
Country Club members could have been
involved in marshaling the 12th hole at
Oakland Hills during Ryder Cup maches week,
but only 90 lucky members could serve.
Harvith shared captain's duty with Knollwood
president Cecil Raitt and spent the better part of
Ryder Cup week trudging up and down the
560-yard, par 5 hole at least 50 times — almost
16 miles — not that he's complaining.
"I think I'm going to take those golf shoes and
put them in bronze and never wear them again,"
he said. The week went by without a hitch, he
says, and he'll always have great memories.
During Sunday's round, Harvith said basket-
ball legend Michael Jordan, who was following
Tiger Woods, gave him a cigar.
"We were both smoking cigars, and I told him
he didn't have the right credentials to be standing
in that particular area, but I told him to stand
next to me," Harvith said. "When Tiger eagled
the hole, I told Tiger it was because I let him
stand there and give him good luck."
Raitt said West Bloomfield-based Knollwood
has developed a good relationship with Oakland

Hills in Bloomfield Township over the years.
"When they had the U.S. Amateur last year,
we allowed the golfers to practice on our driving
range," he said. "When we were offered the
chance to marshal at the Ryder Cup, the 90 vol-
unteer marshals signed up immediately."
When Rosh Hashanah coincided with the
international event, Oakland Hills offered to
send in substitute marshals so the Jewish mem-
bers could celebrate the High Holy Days,
Harvith said. A few took the offer.
"I told them, 'If you have a golf tournament at
Christmas, we'll take care of you,"' he said.
Sally Nosanchuk of Farmington Hills said
marshals were required to buy their uniform for
about $240, and, once done with their four-hour
shift, they were allowed to roam the course. -
"It's an honor to be here," she said during a
practice round on Sept. 15.
Harvith said marshal Jeff Leib of West
Bloomfield was working the 12th green on
Sunday when European team member Miguel
Angel Jimenez tossed him a golf ball after mak-
ing his putt.
"Leib took the ball and handed it to a kid in
the crowd," said Harvith. "A great souvenir, but
he gave it to somebody and didn't think any-
thing of it."

Clockwise from top left:
Sally :Nosanchuk and Dr. Melvin Rubenfire
of West Bloomfield work the 12th tee box.
Alan Harvith in captain's mode.
Alan Harvith watches U.S. team member David Toms tee off

9/24
2004

26

