Michael Vass: Tell us a little about you.
Zarchary Majka: I am 25 years old, married for 10 months now with a new house and 2 dogs. I have been golfing for about 8 years now and I love the game. I play in a league on Monday nights and also try to get out for another round during the week if time permits. I really can't play enough. I have one saying that sums it up
"Born to golf forced to work, so many courses so little time."
Michael Vass: How did you get to enter the Dick's Pro-Am Tournament?
Zarchary Majka: My employer was a sponsor in the Dick's Open Tournament and because of that they had an appreciation tournament for all sponsors. At that tournament they have a dinner and they randomly pick 8 players to play in the Pro-Am. I was the 8th player picked!!!!
Michael Vass: What handicap are you?
Zarchary Majka: My handicap was 17 for the Pro-Am
Michael Vass: How many days were you able to play?
Zarchary Majka: I played 1 of the days. Thursday June 25th 8am
Michael Vass: Who were you playing with?
Zarchary Majka: The Champions Tour Pro that I played with was Lonnie Nielsen
Michael Vass: How was the course?
Zarchary Majka: The course was in impeccable shape, thick rough, fast greens and lush fairways.
Michael Vass: Any difference from playing the course when the Pro's aren't there?
Zarchary Majka: I have played the course a few times when it wasn't prepared for the Open and yes, I most definitely see a difference in the grooming.
Michael Vass: What was it like to play with the pro?
Zarchary Majka: At first I was very nervous and scared that I would play bad. But playing with a pro was amazing. Lonnie made me feel at ease and gave helping advice when needed.
Michael Vass: Did you learn any tips, what kind of person was he, how was the caddy, ect.
Zarchary Majka: I was hitting the ball to the left often (slicing) and I asked him why am I doing that? He explained why and gave me a tip on how to hit the ball more straight on a consistent basis.
He said that I needed to bring my hips through before I make contact with the ball, and I am happy to say that he was right. It works because I did it at my golf league on Monday night.
Lonnie's caddy, Gipsy, was a funny short big bellied Italian who loved to talk and was very helpful with his reading of the greens and giving the distances of shots from the fairways, sand and/or woods occasionally.
Michael Vass: How did you score?
Zarchary Majka: In the Pro-Am our team shot 13 under and was tied for 9th place.
Michael Vass: What is it like for a normal person to have a crowd around you?
Zarchary Majka: It was very different that just playing in league or going out with your friends. It gave me a new appreciation for the pros on what they mentally have to deal with, and deal with it they do!!
Michael Vass: How did your pro ultimately do?
Zarchary Majka: Well its funny you ask because he went on to not only win the 2009 Dick's Sporting Goods Open but he did it with the lowest 3 round score on the Champions Tour (this year or in history not sure). He shot a 21 under.
[For the record it was a 195 3-day total for the win, beating Fred Funk by 3. The record was for the 3 year Pro-Am at En-Joie. In addition Neilsen’s 63 was the lowest final round score for a winner on the Champion’s Tour this year.]
Michael Vass: Anything else you would like to share with us regular duffers about the experience?
Zarchary Majka: It was just amazing and something that will be with me forever, an experience of a lifetime!!
