GREENSBORO, N.C. — It’s day one of the Wyndham Championship Tournament and even in the rain, fans are showing up to see their favorite players.
What You Need To Know
- Donnie Brown and Doug Branch have been attending the Wyndham Championships since 2009
- Branch and Brown both love the game because it’s a sport that shows off each person’s strengths and abilities
- Both men says it’s a game that brings people together with long lasting memories
Donnie Brown and Doug Branch are watching their favorite golfer, Robert Streb, tee off on day one of the Wyndham Championship Tournament. Not only is Robert Streb their favorite golfer, they have a personal relationship with him as well. They’re all friends who met on the golf course.
“Cause of Donny, because he played with him in a Pro-Am, and he came back to the course and said, 'Y'all want to see a young kid really hit a golf ball long ways. You need to come watch it.' And that's what we did, night before he even made the tour. He was on mini tour and just was fun,” Branch said.
Brown, a sales manager for Pepsi, grew up playing golf.
“Didn't play a lot of baseball and football. It was growing up on a golf course. You play golf, so, and it's kind of like fishing. It's a sport that you can take way into life,” Brown said.
Branch, a retired fire battalion chief, got into golf at 21 after playing baseball for many years. Branch and Brown both love the game because it’s a sport that shows off each person’s strengths and abilities.
“It’s because it's individual. You can't blame anything or anybody for your bad play, other than yourself. It's enjoyable, and you meet a lot of good people,” Branch said.
They’re two friends who’ve been attending the Wyndham Championships since 2009.
“We support all the golfers. We like to see people play well and they pull for each other when you're out there playing. And that’s really neat because a lot of sports people are pulling against each other, but out here, they pull for each other because they're all out here trying to do one thing, provide for the family. And that's very important to us,” Branch said.
And for their friend Streb, they just want him to have a good time.
“I just like to see him have a good round of golf. You know, this game, even though it's a job for him and it is his work, you really enjoy it. Enjoy the game and enjoy the people that you're around,” Brown said.
It’s a game they both say brings people together with long lasting memories.
“It’s four, five hours of a day that you have to pass up to go play a round of golf. But the memories that you create and the friendships you create, there's nothing like it,” Branch said.