The 17th Green at the Tahoe Celebrity Golf Championship at Edgewood Golf Course.

Despite the fact that my boyfriend’s biggest problem this summer has been blisters on his hands from playing too much golf, I have yet to pick up a club.  Unlike tennis, which seemingly has the most complicated scoring system in the world, I have a fairly good grasp of the rules of the sport thanks to the Easter Sunday ritual of watching the PGA Tour.  Honestly, I intended to take the golf class at the college this fall just for the hell of it so that I could get better than boyfriend and kick his ass up and down the greens, but it appears that my workdays are not going to get any shorter in the coming months.

Fans pose with Kelly Slater for a photo op on Thursday at the 7th green.

When the editor of the Tahoe Mountain News rang me up and asked if I’d be interested in photographing the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship here in Tahoe last month, of course I said yes.  I’ve never been to the Celebrity Golf Championship, which comes to Tahoe every year, and furthermore, I’ve never been farther into Edgewood than the Brooks Bar and Deck (which makes a mean and, most importantly, real margarita).  You know my motto: why the hell not?

The event was SUPER fun and although I tend to think watching golf isn’t that exciting, the element of celebrities when combined with start struck fans is a fairly comical scenario to watch.  My favorite moment was, without question, watching Charles Barkley’s entourage pass out hundred dollar bills to the crowd.  First of all, I was the ONLY photographer there.  I feel pretty lucky to have witnessed it.

“With a hundred dolla bill, y’all”

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the days I spent at the event.  If you would like to see them all, you may do so via this link.

Ahmad Rashad breaks a smile at the fans antics at the 7th hole.

Michael Phelps high fives a row of spectators on Thursday.

John Elway sends one flying to the fans at the 17th hole.

Goofing off for the crowd, Jeremy Roenick pretends to tackle his caddie.

Phelps signed autographs for hours Saturday afternoon.