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16 and Wild at the Phoenix Open
What a privilege to have full access to a professional sporting event, in fact the most attended tournament on the PGA tour. Today I started my internship at the WM Phoenix Open, the FedEx Cup. Although the official tournament doesn’t begin until Thursday, there has already been plenty of action for spectators. The Pro Am took place today, with lots of other fun promotions on Hole 16 aka “the party hole.”
Fun facts about Hole 16:
- First – it is NOT your average golf round.
- The hole is surrounded by 15,000 spectator seats (the most of any on the PGA tour)
- It is notoriously known for fans rowdy behavior, noise levels which would be taboo on any other course.
- Tiger Woods hit a hole-in-one here the last time he played at this tournament
- This hole is iconic for its atmosphere – more like a football game, than golf.
- Skyboxes and Loge passes are $45,000-$150,000.
I began today by picking out my new set of wheels….
Just to set the stage a little bit. Scottsdale, Arizona is absolutely GORGEOUS. I had the pleasure of driving into Scottsdale during sunrise this morning, and the sky was cotton-candy colored while the mountains were a grey/purple. Cameras don’t to desert colors justice. The golf course is as prestigious as you would imagine from a nationally-televised sporting event. The holes have large stadium seats and skyboxes with elaborate buffets, desserts and coffees, and of course full bars throughout.
First let me mention that I have never played or watched a golf event unless mini golf at Fiesta Village counts. Even in my interview for this position, I straight-up admitted that I was not very familiar with golf. But I was excited about an opportunity to learn about the behind-the-scenes business aspect of a new sport! So my expectations for this Open were: very quiet crowds of people, lined around the course. Stuffy “golf claps.” Silly golf outfits.
Well….I was right about the outfits part. Golfers love their crazy pants. Exhibit A:
(Seeing how many pictures I took of other people’s pants today is making me concerned now.)
But the atmosphere of the spectators was far from stuffy or quiet. It was a 100,000 guest P-A-R-T-Y. The music was blasting, the drinks were flowing, the entertainment was constant. The “shot at glory” on Hole 16 was a treat! We stood in the skyboxes, looking down at professional athletes, businesspeople, and celebrities swing on the green. My personal highlights were Jake Owen, Larry Fitzgerald, and the tall cute guy from Lady Antebellum (I don’t know his real name…).
I watched Tiger putt on Hole 15 and fall apart on Hole 16. I learned who Phil Mickelson is, and apparently missed Tim Tebow autographs by a few minutes. I’m not a star-struck person, because when you see Tiger Woods in real life he just looks like a normal person. But it was pretty cool to have such an out-of-the-ordinary day (on a school day!) and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!
#DeliciousBowl by Chobani
Let’s just get right into it: I’m very excited to bring you today’s recipe!
I am participating in #DeliciousBowl by Chobani, with an original Super Bowl snack incorporating Chobani Greek yogurt. (You can search #DeliciousBowl on Instagram and Tumblr to find other participating bloggers!) Whipping things up in the kitchen is way too fun. (Remember my football snackies?) I won’t be hosting any Super Bowl get-togethers this year…but if I did, this Creamy Butternut Squash Dip would be there with some pita chips!
The hardest part of this recipe-creation was deciding between sweet or savory. My sweet tooth screamed caramel apple dip… but in an unexpected twist, I went with something herb-y and cheese-y. And whaddaya know, it turned out pretty great.
Super Bowl Sunday Delicious Bowl Appetizer: Creamy Butternut Squash Dip with Pita Chips
- 1 butternut squash, cubed
- 4 Tbs. olive oil
- dash of salt
- dash of pepper
- 1 Tbs. Garlic powder
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
- 1 cup Chobani Greek Yogurt (Plain flavor, 0% fat)
- sprinkle of Parsley
- 1 Tbs. Oregano (I’m in love with the smell of oregano right now)
- 1 Tbs. ground Sage
- Pita chips for dipping (I used Wheat Thins’ new product Toasted Pita Chips)
1.) Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil.
2.) Toss the butternut squash cubes in 3 tablespoons of olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
3.) Roast for 30 minutes or until very soft, flipping half-way through.
4.) Combine the roasted squash, feta cheese, and remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil in a food processor. Place mixture in the refrigerator and allow to cool completely.
5.) Once the squash is totally cool, add Chobani Greek yogurt, sage, oregano, and parsley to the food processor. Combine until it’s one creamy mixture!
6.) I topped this #DeliciousBowl with some more parsley and feta for color and served with pita chips on the side.
I’m happy I went with the ‘savory’ selection! The spices and herbs are crazy-flavorful, and this recipe is a much healthier option than traditional cheesy or cream-based dips like ranch or onion. Greek yogurt adds fat-free creaminess with extra protein; herbs flavor the dish without sugar or excess sodium; squash and feta round out the recipe for some uniqueness.
Maybe this can even something to add to your Super Bowl XLIX menu…?
XOXO Kenz.
By 22, you should…..
Remember when we were in middle school and it was “cute” to play dumb? (Actually I think some people mistakenly believe it still is.) That one TV show, The Simple Life, revolved around Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. The girls would ask what Wal Mart was and we would laugh at their adorable stupidity. Then this trend took off and instantly a nation of girls thought it was funny and adorable to play the airhead role. Granted at 13, we make many questionable decisions (gaucho pants, blue tinted sunglasses, bangs, etc.) But I would hope that by 22 we would start to realize that ignorance or idiocy (feigned or not) has long lost its place in our character.
Next month I will celebrate my 22nd birthday (refrain from any T-Swift reference please.) And then its just a couple short months until I’m a college graduate. A full-on “grown up.” There are certain things a self-sufficient member of society ought to be able to do.
- Budget. And by budget, I mean prioritize purchasing necessities over random splurges. If you habitually pick up a coffee or a latte but can’t seem to afford your own paper towels or shampoo…it’s time to reevaluate. In a couple months, you will be done with college (or maybe you already are). You can no longer use the excuse ‘broke college student’. If you’re broke, it’s because you don’t know how to budget or prioritize. No one likes that one friend who’s constantly mooching off their stuff, asking for favors and never offering anything in return.
- Paint your own nails. I’m still working on this one! I was spoiled growing up, and I didn’t start painting my own nails until freshman year of college. Manicured hands make a difference in your overall appearance though, so I’ll stick with the pale colors for now ;)
- Iron your clothes. None of my friends even own an iron, and judging by the wrinkled polo’s and mussed crop tops, I would say neither does the rest of campus. (It should also be stated that leggings are not pants, and ironing said leggings will not make them pants.) Ironing your clothes is important for your appearance; wrinkles look sloppy. You can’t get away with the sloppy look outside of Sociology 101.
- End the texting games. I know a girl who is on her phone 24/7, yet she has a strict rule that she can’t text back within 5-10 minutes. She says it makes you look too eager. WTH? Sounds like a big waste of 5 minutes every time you want to respond to someone. You’re too old for senseless time-frame rules.
- Stop showing up late on purpose. Fear of being the first one there…guess what, if everyone showed up on time it wouldn’t matter! Showing up half an hour late acting like you had something more important is an insult. Constantly running behind means you are lazy or just can’t manage time. Either way, you’re too old for this.
- RSVP. So here’s a scenario: a friend invites you to her house for movie night in 2 days. You’re waiting for something better to come along so you don’t answer her until a couple hours before the movie starts. Um, invite rescinded! People who extend invitations, no matter how casual, deserve a legitimate response. Constantly keeping plans ‘tentative’ while holding out for something better is selfish. Stop that.
- Own a vacuum. By now you are living away from your parents, or getting ready to. Whether you share an apartment, rent a condo, whatever….being a grown up means owning grown-up things like a vacuum. Should probably also have non-plastic dishes and a bed frame by now.
- Talk on the phone. In an age where teacher’s tweet the class, younger generations have a fear of speaking on the phone. It’s unnatural and all to personal for us. There is something so charming about having a landline phone and personally calling up a friend just to talk about the day. We should do this more.
- Learn how to follow a recipe. (No the instructions on the mac n’ cheese box don’t count.) A lot of college meals consist of cheap pastas, frozen boxes or leftovers. Taking the time to cook an actual meal will be well worth it when you graduate and become a real self-sufficient adult who gets their nutrients and all that good stuff ;)
So that’s my list. Did I forget anything? Do you agree?
