Bill Murray enjoying a moment with the troops at the 2015 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (Photo by Gary Harrington)
By Gary Harrington
DLIFLC Public Affairs
MONTEREY, Calif. – Over the last 60 years, students of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center have volunteered, carried golf bags, and worked concession booths while creating great memories of their days at the once named Bing Crosby National Pro-Am in Monterey, Calif.
Today, although the name has changed (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 1985) it is no different as more than 250 service men and women volunteer, giving valuable support to the PGA Tour, the community, and numerous charities who receive hundreds of thousands of dollars of funds raised during this six-day annual event.
Pebble Beach Golf Links opened its doors in 1919 along the spectacular Pacific Ocean making it one of the greatest public courses in America. In 1947, The U.S. Army Language School opened just minutes away in Monterey. In the early years students would walk the 4-5 miles to play on Pebble Beach or carry bags earning a few extra dollars when not in classes.
Kenny G. looks on as a DLIFLC student tees off on the 17th hole participating in the closest to the pin contest. (Photo by Gary Harrington)
Since 1947 the Pebble Beach Pro-Am is held annually in early February, except in 1996 when it was cancelled due to bad weather. The tournament is held on 3 courses on Pebble Beach Resorts, Spyglass Hill, the Links at Spanish Bay and Pebble Beach Golf Links. In the early years, the tournament was named the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am with the winner receiving $2,000 for winning the tournament; today the winner receives $1.2 million, with the tournaments total purse exceeding $6.8 million dollars.
Over the years students from the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center and nearby Naval Post Graduate School have volunteered thousands of hours, manning concessions, helping clean and removing structures at the conclusion of the tournament. This year more than 250 students were in attendance Wednesday, Feb. 11, a day annually set aside as Military Appreciation Day. Service members carried bags for celebrities and one student was selected to tee off on the 17th hole along with the celebrities in the closest to the pin contest.
Tournament play begins on Thursday with 156 pro players being matched with another 156 amateur players, many being well known celebrities from the entertainment and sports world.
Condaleeza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State thanks a Navy service member who was part of the 15th hole flag detail at the 2015 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. (Photo by Gary Harrington)
Beginning Friday morning, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am dedicates the 15th hole just adjacent to the Support Our Troops hospitality tent, to attending military and veterans. During these final three days of the tournament, in place of the club flag on the 15th green, is a U.S. Flag where service members from the five branches, Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard symbolically stand guard with the flag pin during and throughout play. Over the years many of the professional and celebrity amateur golfers have greeted these young men and women to express their gratitude for the service they give to the nation.
The real winners of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am are the charities. To date, more than $120 million has been raised, with many of those charities supporting troops around the world.
