A Special Place for Military Members

Just off the 13th green at Torrey Pines South is a VIP pavilion known as the Patriots’ Outpost. This special area is sponsored by the Harbaugh Foundation during the Farmers Insurance Open, offering 3,000 active-duty and retired military members an unforgettable experience at the tournament.

Joe Balla, president of the Harbaugh Foundation, described the event as “like a family.” Many attendees have been coming for years, appreciating the opportunity to see the green and enjoy the game. Balla believes that there is not enough being done for the military in the country, and it’s a blessing for the foundation to give back.

The Harbaugh Foundation was founded in honor of George Harbaugh, a former Air Force pilot and golf enthusiast from Solana Beach. For many military members, this event is more than just a day out—it’s a chance to relax, connect with loved ones, and appreciate the game of golf.

Joseph Swann, a Houston native stationed in San Diego, shared his appreciation for the event. “It’s not every day we can go to a PGA event,” he said. “It’s good to see people enjoying themselves and the game. The military can be stressful, but being able to bring a loved one or kids here makes it special.”

A Symbol of Appreciation

The 13th hole also serves as a stage for military appreciation. Each day, a different branch of the military tends to the flagstick, which is topped with an American flag. On Saturday, Navy Day was celebrated, with a uniformed serviceman standing at attention alongside the flagstick as players putted out.

Ricardo Lopez, a Florida native stationed in San Diego, had the opportunity to participate in this tradition. “It was a wonderful experience being up front with the players,” Lopez said. “I really enjoyed it. It was quite an honor. (The players) all shook my hand and thanked me for being here.”

Golfers and their caddies often make it a point to come over and shake hands with the servicemen, showing their gratitude. However, this wasn’t always the case when the Patriots’ Outpost first debuted 11 years ago.

A Change in Attitude

Joe Balla recalls that, in the early days, golfers didn’t always acknowledge the military as they left the green. He even considered giving the flag holder a ball or a high-five. In 2017, Balla spoke to a tournament official about this, and they arranged for Jon Rahm, a young golfer, to visit the outpost after his opening round.

Rahm, who grew up in Spain and played golf at Arizona State, was delighted to meet the military members. “I’m a Spaniard. I grew up in Spain, played golf at Arizona State, but I’m so grateful to the military. Grateful to those who fought for my freedom to play the game,” he said.

That day, Rahm picked up plenty of new fans, and three days later, he stunned the crowd with a 60-foot putt on the 18th hole to win the 2017 Farmers for his first PGA tournament victory.

Behind the Scenes: A Unique Broadcast Feature

One of the highlights of the CBS broadcast is the walk-and-talk segment on the 13th hole. Joel Dahmen was chosen to participate in this feature, but he faced some technical difficulties. After his tee shot, he couldn’t hear the broadcasters through his earbud. The issue was fixed before his second shot, but it occurred again, leading the team to give up on trying to reconnect.

Jim Nantz joked about the situation, saying, “I don’t need any turndown service at the hotel. I’ve already been turned down twice.”

A Challenging Shot

Dahmen attempted to reach the 619-yard 13th hole in two shots but fell short by a yard or two. His ball landed in a valley in front of the green and came to rest in a divot. This made it nearly impossible to reach the green on his third shot, even though he was only 105 yards away. He ended up needing six shots to complete the hole.

Golf is based on the principle of “playing the ball as it lies” and “playing the course as you find it.” Divots are considered normal, unlike sprinkler heads or gopher holes, where relief is allowed. Dahmen, who was in second place entering the final round, carded his only bogey at the 13th due to the challenging lie.

He called it “kind of a bad break.”

Interesting Facts and Observations

Justin Rose, who leads the tournament by six shots, had an eight-shot advantage after 10 holes. This puts him on track to match Tiger Woods’ eight-shot lead in 2008. Rose, at 45 years, 6 months, and 1 day old, is the first player 45 or older to lead a tournament by five shots or more since records began in 1983.

A Final Thought

With the silver market dropping 25% and gold falling 8% on Friday, it might have been wise to invest in parking lot futures instead. Valet parking at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines increased from $75 on Thursday to $115 for the weekend. At that price, the car should come back washed and waxed.