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Sweetman watches best golfers in world

Ron Sweetman returned last week from watching some of the best golfers in the world compete for the U.S. Open title at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. Sweetman was in the Washington, D.C.

Ron Sweetman returned last week from watching some of the best golfers in the world compete for the U.S. Open title at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

Sweetman was in the Washington, D.C. area for 10 days, while the players played three practice rounds before the tournament got underway on June 16. It ended on June 19.

Sweetman was there as a volunteer working in the merchandising tent for four six-hour shifts. About 350,000 people watched the golfers make their way around the course during the four days. When he wasn't working, Sweetman was watching some excellent golf.

“It was busy during the time I was working but the time I wasn't working I got to watch a lot of wonderful golf. You're watching, in theory, the best players in the world playing and they play at so much higher a level than any of us can aspire to. It's just amazing to watch the things that they can do when they hit a ball,” he said.

“You volunteer, you work your shifts, and you have access to the grounds for the whole week the tournament is on,” he said.

Sweetman applied online to become a volunteer through the United States Golf Association website. He's also been accepted for next year's U.S. Open being held in the San Francisco area.

“Anybody can apply, and if you apply early enough then you can be accepted,” he said.

Volunteers must pay for their own trip costs there, although they receive a subsidized cost for the uniform they wear during the tournament.

Although this was Sweetman's first time at the U.S. Open, he has volunteered for the women's Canadian Open in the past, as well as the Air Canada tournament that was formerly held each year in Vancouver.

"It was busy during the time I was working but the time I wasn't working I got to watch a lot of wonderful golf."Ron Sweetman, volunteer, recent U.S. Open

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