We live in Aurora, Colorado in an active-adult country club community designed for people 55 and over and our home sits on the fourth hole of the Arthur Hills designed championship golf course.   Since we retired in 2002, we have embraced all of the activities that we suddenly had the time to enjoy and relish but our favorite is golf.  We own a souped-up golf cart and when the weather is good or even marginal, you will find Norm playing golf five days a week and I play three times a week.  Most mornings before his round of golf, my husband Norm is on the computer.  He regularly receives e-mails from the Golf Channel and repeatedly entered a contest for a trip to Myrtle Beach to play golf with Natalie Gulbis.  The trip included airfare, car, condo and three rounds of golf, one of which was with Natalie.  You can’t imagine our shock and enthusiasm when we were notified we won!  Norm chose me, and our two oldest sons, Jason and Jeremy, who are also avid golfers to accompany him.  We departed on our trip on November 16, 2007. 

Meeting Natalie was an absolute delight.  We were so impressed with how warm and engaging she is.  In talking with her, we learned that she has wonderful values and her priorities are set straight.  So amazing for a young woman!  Although her luggage was lost, she remained poised.  She just got up early and took a quick trip to Wal-Mart (gotta love this gal!).  To watch her hit a golf ball was something else – she just walked up, hit the ball and it went forever!  She made it look so effortless and she even gave us a few golf tips.

When playing the round at Grande Dunes, there were a gallery and media people following us.  Natalie was so gracious to sign autographs and take pictures with the spectators.  It was quite the opportunity for us and something we will never forget.  I know that we will follow Natalie’s career with special interest and hope she wins it all!

We’re back home now and quite the buzz in our club house.  We’re printing a picture of us with Natalie and they are hanging it in the golf shop.  Wish I could get it signed!

~Marilyn Bayens