A Soul Ensnared

Seventeen

August 1, 2013

"If you've never experienced Tournament before," Sonya announced to the group of staffers huddling around her, "the biggest objective is to keep the players happy, while having fun. The day is going to be long, but you've got to remain upbeat, energetic, and ready to anticipate the needs of your golfer. You can and will do it; I have faith in all of you. There's not one caddy, waiter, waitress, or beverage host and hostess at Bloomfield's that hasn't set their expectations high, and then surpassed even their own expectations in service."

A few employees turned and smiled at each other, nodding and murmuring in agreement to her claims. Sonya paused to let the group murmur, and heard a caddy in the back whisper about a time when the golfer had thrown his club into the lake, but he'd been prepared for that, having assisted the golfer before, and had pulled a similar club without so much as blinking.

Her smile widened. "Should you have any questions, I'll be around. My job today is to mingle with the members, but please find me for problems and concerns. I'd rather be the first point of contact, so that Nancy and Noah are free to handle any bigger issues that arise with the tournament today. Nancy's focus needs to be on the media. The exposure that this tournament brings is what keeps Bloomfield's in the spotlight; it's what keeps our name on the tongues of businesses—not only in Bloomington, but in all of Indiana. Please do not interrupt her during her speeches, presentations, or public appearances."

She paused for a moment, so that the newer employees could appreciate the prestige of the place in which they worked. Her words were meant to pep them up throughout the day, but also remind them how important they were during the length of the tournament.

"As for Noah," she began, "I know he's been joking about not wanting to be interrupted because his main job is eating the lobster rolls." She paused again, this time to let the laughter die down. A fresh burst of laughter escaped her own lips. He had everyone convinced that he was going to hide in a tent, shoveling lobster rolls into his mouth until the buttons of his shirt flew open. Her eyes rolled at the image. "However, Noah has an important role that has nothing to do with food. As Bloomfield's Superintendent, he is responsible for maintaining the course for the next four days. It's an arduous task, and I don't want someone telling him that Mrs. Coddington's cat has found itself stuck in another tree. Especially if he's in the middle of analyzing the conditions of the turf throughout the length of the tournament. On that note, if Mrs. Coddington loses her damn cat at the third hole, find me."

They chuckled, having experienced the needs of Mr. Coddington's wife throughout the year. She regularly lost her cat, her keys, her purse, and—on occasion—the scarf she wore on her head to protect her curls from the wind. Every time she lost an object—particularly the cat she carried in her purse—the entire Club would stop their tasks to help her search. If the Club employees weren't sufficient in their search, Mrs. Coddington would begin asking for help from the Club members themselves. This had resulted in a hilarious spectacle of a group of employees and members gathering around the tree-line of the eighteenth hole, watching the golf cart attendant, Tommy, climb out of the branches with a wispy, yellow scarf in his hands.

Sonya rubbed her chin, lost in thought, wondering what she'd missed in her yearly speech to the staff. Unsure if she'd hit all the major points, she spoke her thoughts out loud. "Remain professional. Remain upbeat. Be courteous. Never argue with a member. Come to me. Don't bother Noah and Nancy. I think I've covered all the relevant issues."

Placing her hand into the center of their group, she looked around at all of the employees who helped create the work environment she loved so much. They responded by shuffling closer, straining to place their hands on top of hers. "Is everyone ready for a fantastic day? One, two, three, Day One of Tournament, commence!" she announced, lifting the weight of their hands into the air.