PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Golf enthusiasts from the greater Beaufort area gathered June 8, 2015, at the Legends at Parris Island Golf Course for the start of the first of four golf tournaments aimed at celebrating Parris Island’s 100th year of making Marines.
The tournament, presented by Marine Corps Community Services, started as many others do. However, before teeing off, the golfers experienced some of Parris Island's mission of making Marines.
“Male recruits from all over the eastern seaboard, and females from across the United States arrive to Parris Island in the dead of night, where they are introduced to the first figure they’ll see, the receiving drill instructor,” said Capt. David Murray, planning officer for Parris Island's centennial celebration, as a form of introduction.
“Get off my carts, and get on to the yellow footprints!” screamed Sgt. Jonathan Owens, senior drill instructor assigned to Recruit Processing Company, Support Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment. “I’m going to start counting down from 50, and when I reach one, you’re done moving and standing on my yellow footprints. Do you understand!?”
A brief moment of shock from the golfers passed.
“Do you understand!?” Owens reiterated before being answered. “Yes Sir!” screamed the golfers.
“Move!” barked Owens as he started counting down from 50 to one, faster than any typical timer would move.
The golfers hurried from their carts to a set of yellow footprints stenciled outside of the club house. Numbers flew by as the golfers frantically tried to find a set of unoccupied yellow footprints.
“When I say one, you say ‘done sir’! One!”
“Done Sir!” responded the golfers. The participants in the first Centennial Golf Tournament had successfully re-created the first moment of a United States Marine Corps recruit on Parris Island, as over 1 million have done since 1915.
Owens continued to give the speech he conducts to every new group of recruits that arrives to recruit training, emphasizing orders, the importance of speed, intensity, respect, and the prestigious history Marines have had over the past century. For some of the golfers, the experience is a trip down memory lane, with many veterans still standing at a perfect position of attention - back straight, feet at a 45 degree angle, fists down at their sides and thumbs pinned to the trouser seams.
“Watching from the sidelines, it was interesting to see everyone jump to attention and yell back in response as instructed," said Charlotte Gonzalez, an MCCS employee. "Everyone hurried to the Yellow Footprints as instructed and had a smile on their face as they were released to commence golfing. I don’t think anyone in attendance expected this type of start to the tournament but took it in stride and had a great time.”
The experience before even starting the tournament left a lasting impression.
“I had no idea what to expect, but we were talking about the experience throughout the entire tournament,” said Clark Sinclair, director of golf at a nearby golf course. “I think the best way to describe the feeling would be ‘terrifyingly comforting’!”
As Owens concluded, he ordered the golfers to return to their carts for the start of the tournament.
The Parris Island Centennial Golf Tournaments: Recruit Training Points Race at the Legends of Parris Island Golf Course is a series of four tournaments scheduled to take place on Parris Island from June to October. The tournament is designed to provide a fun venue to experience the unique atmosphere of Parris Island, witness some of the history and events within recruit training, and build up to the culminating events of Parris Island’s Centennial Celebration from October 14, 15 and 16.
“As a PGA professional, I’ve conducted hundreds of tournaments but never anything like this!” said Andy Hinson, the head professional at the Legends at Parris Island Golf Course. “I can assure you that the next three centennial tournaments will be as unique.”
There are three remaining tournaments in the series, with the next one being the “Confidence Course,” whose namesake is a training event for recruits that involves the negotiation of several obstacles designed to push recruits out of their comfort zones. Organizers say there won’t be any scaling of walls or rope swings during this tournament.
“Each was designed as a golf tournament first," said Murray. "Jumping over walls and low-crawling under concertina wire, although fun, would be counter-intuitive to a good round of golf.”
The Confidence Course tournament is scheduled for July 11. For more information, visit Parris Island’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/parrisisland, or Marine Corps Community Services – South Carolina at www.mccs-sc.com.