How did the family become involved with the Classic?
Bruce: In 1990 or ’91, my boss gave Joe Calaban (now the chairman of Greens Reporters) and I tickets to the tournament. It was fun and, when we heard they needed volunteers the next year, we decided to do it and have been here ever since. By now, the tournament is like a family reunion with people from all over the Island and the country really.

Maureen: I started a year or two after Bruce because he was doing it and it looked like fun. Before I got involved, I came to the tournament wearing one of Bruce’s old volunteer shirts. I was standing behind the green on a par-3 when one of the pros hit his ball over the green and into another fairway behind me. He didn’t know where his ball was, saw my shirt and thought I was the marshal on the hole. He came up and asked me where his ball was and so I showed him. Later I decided I’d try being a “real” marshal the next year.

Kerry: I started because of my parents. It was the natural thing to do. When I was really young, I would sit with my dad and help him. Then when I was old enough to be a Media Runner, I did that for a year. Since then, I’ve been a greens reporter. I’ve been doing it so long now that I train new people.

Do any of you play golf?
Bruce: I play, but like everyone else I don’t play as much as I’d like. There is never enough time. Living on Long Island, we have to make time to go fishing and boating. I also love to cook and do some catering on the side.

Maureen: No. I like boating and fishing, and helping Bruce when he caters something. I love setting up and decorating. I want to start painting again.

Kerry: No. I have a set of clubs but I am more interested in the arts – singing, dancing, writing. I work at a nursing home and do some other volunteer work. I plan on doing more.

Anything out of the ordinary ever happen during a tournament?
Maureen: I had a tee shot land in my hat once. I was walking along the edge of the woods to the 6th tee when I heard a loud “Ping!” in the trees above my head and I felt something drop onto the brim of my hat. I tilted my head down to knock it off and the ball just rolled off the hat and into the fairway. And some of the pros know me as “Lobster Lady” because of the sunburn I get every year.

Kerry: On the 15th hole we have to chase geese out of the way so they don’t get hit by any golf balls.

Bruce: After every tournament, we have an unofficial party at the volunteer tent. After Bruce Fleisher won in 1999, he came over and spent some time with all of us. He thanked us for our help, signed autographs and stood for pictures. It was the first time a pro had come over and done that and it really made us feel appreciated. He did it again last year.

Kerry, are you glad your parents got you involved in the Classic?
Yeah. It’s fun. You feel like you’re wanted, and you get to see a lot of excitement on and around the course. I’m not a golfer or even a sports person so that says a lot. I’ve known some of these people my whole life. They’re like a second family.

Reprinted from the Official Lightpath Long Island Classic Site