U.S. SENIOR OPEN: Kansas man king of the course

STILLWATER, Okla. If youve got a problem at the U.S. Senior Open Championship, odds are Charlie Pierce will know.

As the chief field marshal, hes the man who is in charge of more than a 1,000 volunteers and by default the resident problem-solver at Oak Tree National. This weeks senior championship, which runs through Sunday in Edmond, marks the eighth time hes volunteered at a senior open; hes worked six womens opens; and one PGA Open.

And he does it all for free.

The soon to be 56-year-old Hutchinson, Kan., resident volunteers at an average of two big golf tournaments a year, leading thousands of volunteers a year. As the volunteer who is often among the first to arrive each day at 6 a.m. and the last to leave at about 8 p.m. the U.S. Golf Association even gives him his own golf cart that has his initials on the front when he volunteers.

I dont lose my patience very often, he says.

When people mob a golfer seeking an autograph, he is the one who steps in to help a golfer escape. Hes the one who helped re-arrange walkways after this weeks rainstorm made the existing ones a muddy mess. His people also deal with guests who have imbibed too much alcohol. He oversees the gatekeepers who make sure people stay off the course when golfers are playing.

Every golf course has got something crazy, he said. This golf course its (holes) 10, 11, and 18. Thats where most of the trouble is. They all cross over and they all mix up. So youve got a lot of people going different directions. So youve got to figure out whats the best way for them to go, the most efficient way for them to go.

Pierce, himself, is always on the go.

You getting enough fluids and stuff? Youve been out here three straight days, he queries one volunteer as he speeds by in his golf cart to address the latest problem an allegation about lack of strong volunteer leadership on Hole 16 and a volunteer who gave away all the Powerade to course visitors drinks that were supposed to hydrate other volunteers working in the scorching heat.

Then his radio buzzes. Uh oh. Charlie where is that scooter down at?

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U.S. SENIOR OPEN: Kansas man king of the course