Seeing Red

As you walk the grounds and the HP Byron Nelson Classic this weekend you will see them everywhere. You will not be able to keep you eyes off of them. Try not to stare. I am referring, of course, to the red pants. What did you think I meant?

The guys in the red pants are more plentiful than even the hotties on this perfect weather weekend in Irving. The guys in the red pants are all members of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas. They run this tournament and allow it to yield the highest charitable take of any stop on tour. In short the tournament has almost no expenses because the guys in red pants are all volunteers.

So who are these red-pant-wearing old dudes? I am glad you asked. I remember the first time I encountered one of them way back in the early 90’s, back when the pavilion was still The Pavilion. I was at NBC5 at the time and my assignment was to do a story on the pavilion. I know it’s a tough job, but someone has got to do it. My cameraman (the Great Kerry Smith) and I left the media room and jumped on a cart driven by an older fellow in red pants. I stood on the back of the cart while Kerry sat in the seat. When we arrived at our location we quickly thanked the driver and off he went. When he was out of ear shot Kerry says, “do you know who that is?” Of course I didn’t. He breathlessly told me it was the president of Belo.

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The truth is that all of the men who are greeting you at the gates and guiding you to the rest room and holding up the quiet sign and conducting other forms of menial labor, all of them are captains of industry and presidents of companies and really impressive men. They give their time this week, and they give their time all year. Someone is already planning next year’s tournament. Besides this is only one of the ways in which they serve our community. These are all guys who know they have been blessed by a good job, a good career and a good life, so they are giving back.

For the first time in a few years I had a chance to play in the Media Day tournament. The red pant in my group was John Beckert who was the chairman of the tournament in 2011 and who also happens to run Club Corp – a golf course management company that owns more than 150 private courses around the country. He is another example of the caliber of the men who are wearing the red pants this weekend. Most of them could buy and sell you. But they would not do that, because they are good men working for and even better cause.

So if you find yourself staring at the red pants this weekend, just shift your gaze, there is bound to be a hottie in close proximity. After all it is Byron Nelson Weekend. Enjoy!