they walked the famed No . 2 course during a practice round on Wednesday .
For Thursday ’ s first round , they picked a spot to watch and as Parpart says , “ We talked to the volunteers ,” who urged the two to join their ranks . “ We decided we wanted to do it . We would try it one time . It was too late for us to do 2006 so we said 2007 is going to be at Oakmont , which won ’ t be that far away .
“ When you apply , you have to give them three or four choices for committees ,” Parpart said . “ Talking to people in Pinehurst , marshal is what everybody wants to do . Usually the USGA gives those spots to [ club ] members and [ volunteers from ] the area . One of my daughters thought we would be interested in the corporate hospitality committee . That ’ s what we got , enjoyed it , and we went from there .”
Trying it “ just one time ” went out the window quickly . Parpart and Wilkerson volunteered again at Torrey Pines in San Diego in 2008 , the site of Tiger Woods ’ last major victory .
Wilkerson said two times was enough , and Parpart passed on working at Bethpage Black on New York ’ s Long Island in 2009 .
Parpart , a VSGA member , still teaches part-time at Douglas Freeman High School in Henrico County . He ’ s spent more than 30 years coaching boys basketball and girls tennis at the school .
During the off year in 2009 , Parpart bent the ear of Sangston — his longtime friend and activities director at Freeman — about volunteering at the U . S . Open . Sangston , a Jefferson Lakeside Country Club member , was getting ready to retire .
“[ Larry ] said you might enjoy this ,” said Sangston , who is a member of the Virginia State High School League Hall of Fame . “ He said next year it ’ s going to be at Pebble Beach , and he said you can sign up on the website . I went on and signed us up .”
FAMILY ADVENTURE “ Us ” was Sangston and his wife , Ann . Parpart ’ s wife Gayle was already signed up , and Parpart pulled some strings to get the Sangstons on the hospitality committee .
The group continued to grow with the addition of Parpart ’ s cousin Bill Moore and Moore ’ s wife Stevi , who live in Northern Virginia ; and Richmonders Charles and Porcilla Saunders . Unlike the others , the Saunders ’ volunteer time is through the
The Parparts ’ memorabilia room features a number of credentials from past trips to the U . S . Open .
merchandise committee .
Retired Freeman teacher Mary Virginia Manson became the ninth member of the group last year at Oakmont .
“ When we left [ Oakmont last year ], nobody was going to Wisconsin . Then Bill and Jim said , ‘ Why don ’ t the three of us go ?’” Larry Parpart said . “ I got hotel rooms , and we were going to fly . Next thing you know , Ann wanted to go . Stevi , who loves to travel , wanted to go . Gayle still hadn ’ t gotten in yet , and the Saunders weren ’ t in yet . Then the next thing you know everybody was in [ including Manson ].”
“ Going to Wisconsin is a whole new experience ,” Gayle Parpart said . “ None of us has been there .”
As they did for Oakmont in 2016 , they have rented a house that has five bedrooms and five bathrooms and is about 50 miles west of Erin Hills , which is located between Madison and Milwaukee . That means they have to get up early , drive to the parking area for volunteers then take the shuttle for volunteers to the course .
The week is a working vacation for the group . They work Monday , Wednesday and Friday ( three to four , four-hour shifts per person ) and use Tuesday and Thursday to play golf , sightsee or shop . They don ’ t work weekends .
Volunteers have to buy the uniforms : $ 150 per person for two shirts , a jacket , a hat and a bottle . The best uniform , Ann said , came from Pebble Beach and included a lined jacket that helped combat the surprising northern California chill .
“ It was as cold at Pebble Beach as I have
CHRIS LANG ( GROUP PORTRAIT ); ARTHUR UTLEY ( CREDENTIALS )
24 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M AY / J UNE 2017 vsga . org