
"Where's the coffee, Bill?"
Oh my gosh guys, there''s a tent over there. I believe they're serving coffee now. I just walked past there."
"Ok, we'll be right back."
Boy, I thought, these are my kinda guys. Six AM and there up and headed out for coffee. I love it!!
Another hour and a half later, all of us were up and together. Jimmy Scheider, came waltzing in about 7:15 AM. Jimmy is one of the most amazing men I have ever met. In fact, I was going to dedicate a chapter exclusively to him later in this work, but, I guess I'll tell our story now.
I first was introduced to Jim Schneider, the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Village Chapel of Pinehurst in April of 2013. I had been invited to participate in this sacred opportunity we later called Open Doors for the Open by a woman who lived in Pinehurst and had been conducting ministry through the game of golf for many years. This woman and I (I'll call her Vicky) knew each other from years before, 1997 in fact. I had called her as I knew she was an author and I was in the process of developing a golf blog and wanted her to consider writing for us. She said she would consider writing, but, she was at the beginning of developing an event that would be conducted in conjunction with the U.S. Open being held on Pinehurst #2 in June 2014. "Not only are they conducting the Open here, but, for the first time in the history of the Open, Bill, they are conducting the men's and women's Opens back to back, one week after the other on the same golf course.!" "You were involved in conducting ministerial events in golf years ago, weren't you, Bill? Would you like to help us out?" "Would I!!?" I exclaimed. "I'd love that!!"

As I said, Jimmy is one of the most amazing men I've ever met. It took me awhile to discover this, but, this dedicated Christian man would be the lynch pin to this outreach at the 2014 U.S. Opens. I remember, that as we introduced ourselves in that first meeting Jim recognized me for my military career and said how many wonderful soldiers and former soldiers pass through Pinehurst and are involved in the community. I so much appreciated that recognition. It made me feel accepted right away and I knew I was among friends.
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