SILVIS, Ill. — While most fans crowd around to watch the golfers tee off, there's one hole at TPC Deere Run where no spectators are allowed. Only the volunteer marshal, the golfers and sometimes their caddies walk up to the beginning of the 8th hole.
"It is probably the most quiet corner of the golf course," David Keeney said. "It is peaceful. When I got out here this morning, I saw a group of turkeys wander through."
Keeney has volunteered at the Classic for 25 years. Friday morning was his first time working at the 8th hole. He's in charge of tracking the ball's flight.
"I normally do walking scorekeeping, so I'm usually walking the entire course every day," he said. "I'm not used to this much downtime out here. Usually, I'm going, going, going from the time I get here, 'til the time I'm done."
Sometimes he has 20 minutes in between rounds of golfers.
With a name like "Sanctuary," it's almost fitting that no one's allowed back at the tee box. Keeney doesn't have to worry about crowd control and golfers have few distractions.
But he's also doesn't get to watch too much golf from his corner of the course. He can sometimes see people up the hill by the 7th hole.
Keeney won't be the loneliest volunteer at the course for long, though. He worked at the 9th hole earlier this week and will spend Sunday at the 11th hole.
"My preference is to be a little bit more in the action," he said. "But no, there's really not a corner of this golf course that I don't like."
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