Chadd Cripe
The Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 03-18-2006
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Scott Masingill spotted a familiar face outside the ropes as he stood on the 12th tee at Newport Beach Country Club during Thursday's Toshiba Classic pro-am.
"How's it going?" they asked each other.
"Just another day in paradise," Masingill replied with a joyful smile.
For him, that's what his rookie season on the Champions Tour represents — even though his dream opportunity has been more of a nightmare inside the ropes so far.
Masingill, a 54-year-old lifelong resident of Payette, turned pro in 2001 after winning nine Idaho Golf Association Men's Amateur titles to pursue a career on the PGA Tour's 50-and-over circuit.
Four and a half years later, he's a long shot among legends — trying to prove himself alongside Hale Irwin, Curtis Strange, Tom Watson and other household names.
He's in a funk on the course through four-plus events. He hasn't broken par yet, shooting 76 on Friday in the first round of the Toshiba.
But off the course — and in the pro-ams — he remains a lovable golf nut (he's in the Golf Nut Society, after all) and an ambassador for Idaho.
Masingill still grins when he talks of the perks that membership on the elite tour brings his way — a Cadillac Escalade courtesy car most weeks, three dozen Titleist golf balls each week, any free clubs he wants, free meals and brand-new range balls among them.
"It's really a golf junky's heaven," Masingill said. "I am a golf junky, there's no doubt about that."
And he's bringing Idaho along for the ride.
His new golf bag, sponsored by Idaho companies Tamarack Resort and Hopkins Financial Services, includes an Idaho logo.
"Idaho," Masingill said, "that's what makes me different than everybody else."
He draws a crowd, too, although most of them know him personally or through a friend. His cheering section might include his wife Laurie, his parents Cliff and Shirley Masingill of Payette, a longtime friend, a business acquaintance or a pro-am partner he charmed the day before — or perhaps all of the above.
Friday, he had 13 friends and family members in his gallery and longtime friend Curtis Mitchell carrying his bag. A few more family members are expected today.
This week's group of supporters includes Laurie, Masingill's parents, Mitchell's wife and Laurie's father, stepmother, sister, niece and nephew.
"Even though having a bunch of people around has its moments, it's the way I like it," Masingill said. "The worst week for me is the week that I'm out here by myself, hiring a tour caddie."
The travel
Masingill plans to play every Champions event for which he is eligible this season. That's 27 if he gets into every major, and 28 if he reaches the Charles Schwab Cup Championship (top 30 money-winners).
The first five events have taken him to Hawaii, the Gulf Coast of Florida and Southern California.
That's nothing new to him, because he spent about 18 years as a sales representative for trucking company Prime Inc. Travel was a requirement, and his trips often included golf.
"All his competitors (in business), they're trying to get the ear of the CEO," Cliff Masingill said, "and Scott's golfing with him."
Laurie plans to attend about half the events. Masingill also always has a confidant for a caddie, usually his son Ryan.
The Masingills stay at a combination of hotels and friends' houses.
Masingill and his family got a taste of this life over the past four seasons as he traveled the country for Monday qualifiers, where two spots in the tournament field are up for grabs each week.
He succeeded 13 times.
"I try to take mental snapshots everywhere I go," Laurie said. "It's like being in a big Candyland game. It's so beautiful, you just can't even believe it."
The 'gallery'
Everywhere the Champions Tour goes, somebody who knows Masingill pops up.
Friday, a former Oregon State classmate and an old golfing buddy were in the crowd.
A few of Masingill's recent pro-am partners, including one from last week's tournament in Valencia, stopped by to show support, too.
"I run into people everywhere I go that either I know, or they know somebody I know," Masingill said. "It is an unbelievable network."
He feeds that network with e-mail updates to alist of 1,100 names. He also maintains a Champions Tour diary online.
Each morning, he spends about two hours reading and writing e-mails while sipping coffee.
"It makes me feel really proud," Laurie said of Masingill's growing fan club, "because at the end of the day, regardless of how well or poorly the golf turns out, those people are coming out for the person who is doing it. That says a lot about Scott."
Laurie is the ringmaster of what can become quite a circus. Masingill worries about the golf; Laurie takes care of the people.
That means rides, directions, lunch plans, dinner plans — even hotel reservations. She's also learning a sport that baffled her just a few years ago, when she was surprised to learn that tour officials moved the "pinholes" after each round.
"She's just marvelous," Masingill said. "... She takes charge when she needs to take charge."
Which means she also gets to enjoy one of those Champions Tour perks.
"I get to chauffeur the gallery in the Cadillac," Laurie said, "which is really a lot of fun."
The pro-ams
Champions Tour pros are required to play in at least one pro-am a week. That means 41/2 hours of golf with four businessmen, many of whom are hacks.
That makes some pros cringe.
Not Masingill.
He plays an additional, voluntary pro-am each Monday (he gets between $1,000 and $2,000 for his trouble).
This week, he actually played three pro-ams. Those double as his practice rounds.
Last week, he invited two pro-am partners to play with him at an off-site course the next day.
"It's what I did for many years," he said of entertaining businessmen on the golf course. "... I'm fascinated by different businesses, and these guys are vice presidents and presidents of companies."
Masingill's friendly, down-to-Earth demeanor — he played an extra, just-for-fun hole with his group Thursday, provided a bunker lesson and even raked the bunker when the amateur was finished — gives players more of a thrill than a round with an icy star.
It also builds his fan base.
"I'll forever be a fan," said Jim Jones of San Francisco, a Yahoo representative who received the bunker lesson during Thursday's pro-am round. "... He's just a good guy. He gave you the time. He was interested, fun. You could tell he had a passion for golf."
Jones' previous experiences were much different. He struggled to remember thename of the pro in his group Wednesday, and also once played with Irwin.
"We couldn't have gotten a better pro," Jones said of Masingill. "This guy loves being out here. You can see it in his eyes."
The perks
The Champions Tour, while competitive, is not the cutthroat world of the PGA and Nationwide tours.
Every player in the slim 78-man field gets paid, and most tournaments are 54 holes. There is no cut.
That can create some relaxing weekend rounds of golf for players out of contention, as Masingill has been all season.
His playing partners have included Lee Trevino, who has 29 wins each on the PGA and Champions tours, and Strange, a two-time U.S. Open champion.
"If you are respectful of these legendary guys, and you're not always hanging around them asking questions, they will basically open up to you," Masingill said.
Or, you can hang out in the fitness trailer — "no press, no women," Masingill says — and listen to the stories.
"It's like a high school locker room," Masingill said. "There's eight or 10 guys sitting around in their underwear waiting for the physical therapist. ... They're just in there talking, and it's pretty dang funny."
Masingill visits the fitness trailer before and after most rounds. A former Pittsburgh Pirates trainer leads him through his workouts.
It's just another perk in a profession full of them.
"It's like a bazaar," Masingill said. "A free bazaar."
