Potomac, MD (USA)

[Bob gave a me a pass to the Quicken Loans National golf tournament at the Congressional Country Club (near Potomac, Maryland) - it was good for the whole week, but I hadn't been able to use it until today (3rd round) - Tiger Woods didn't make the cut on Friday, so I figured it wouldn't be too busy on Saturday... - I got up around 0730 and drove up to the Country Club in I-495 (traffic already - mostly passing through the DC area, though) and VA-190 - I located a parking lot (actually, someone's yard) with a lower price than what had been advertised on the website and then walked down the street to the Connolly School to catch a shuttle bus - it was a pretty short ride but I saw some amazing estates near the course - after being dropped off, I walked to the main entrance and had no problem getting in - tried out some products (e.g., deli meats, granola bars, etc.) and then walked inside - it was still very early (around 0830) and most of the players were still on the front nine - it was warm but breezy, no clouds - I found several places where fans could watch the last few holes: some were based on loyalty programs (e.g., United Airlines, credit card companies, etc.) and others were pay-for-entry - with no action at that point, I kept walking towards the Clubhouse in the middle of the course - I watched some action on the 10th hole and got yelled at for taking a picture (not allowed) - I signed up for a Quicken Loans VIP upgrade (free stuff all day on the course) but never won anything - eventually, I found the front nine and located Bob at the fourth hole - he has been volunteering (finding balls in the rough, asking for silence on the tee and green, using hand signals for drives, etc.) at the course for a few years - I stuck with him for several hours and watched several golf pairs come through the 4th - saw some great shots - Bob rotated around the hole (fairway, green and tee again) before he got a lunch break - he had saved lunch tickets from earlier in the week and I was able to get lunch from one of the concession stands for no charge - we sat in the shade (getting much hotter by now) and watched action on the 7th and 9th Holes - more great action - Bob had to go back to work, so I walked over to the back nine, which was much busier at that point - watched several of the golfers whose fortunes had changed through the day (better and worse) and explored the 11th fairway fan village - around 1400, decided to head for the exit - crowds much bigger by then, glad to be leaving - had to wait for a bit to get a shuttle ride back to my car - there were even (what appeared to be) locals who were volunteering to drive people away from the (largely closed off) course area - finally, I was at my car and was able to get back to the interstate pretty easily and made my way back to Alexandria - got transmission service at Jiffy Lube before I called it a day at home - what a great time: thanks, Bob!]