Wallis enjoying his time at the Open

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Bill Wallis remembers his assignment at the 2004 U.S. Open like it occurred yesterday.

He was just three months into his job as an assistant pro at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. His job was to book the tee times for every practice round.

“The way it worked was the players had to book their own tee times. I sat in a trailer,” said Wallis, now the head pro at New Haven CC. “The only thing I would say is every single golfer’s personality in real life is what you saw on television.”

Wallis is back at his old stomping grounds this week. He said Shinnecock GC head pro Jack Druga invited back all of his former assistants to volunteer. Wallis worked as a starter on the first tee Monday and will do so again on Wednesday, then volunteer some time on the range Thursday.

Wallis, 47, worked as an assistant at Shinnecock from 2004-08 before getting his first head job at New Haven CC.

“Everyone wants to play there (at Shinnecock GC). The place has so much history and I love studying the history of golf. It’s a wonderful design. Almost every shot is a risk-reward.”

Wallis also recalled watching the final round of the 2004 U.S. Open in the clubhouse. He remembers members of Phil Mickelson’s family watching on TV in the clubhouse. Mickelson finished second to Retief Goosen that year.

Shinnecock GC will play to an approximate yardage of 7, 440. And like previous Opens held there, it will be the complete test for each golfer in a battle of survival.

“It’s a fun course to play when the wind is a factor,” Wallis said. “I love going back here. It’s still my golf family, a lot of my old colleagues and members are still there. It was a great time in my life. Just to be a part of it is an honor to be asked to go back and be with the guys I used to work with. It’s a very small, inclusive club.”

Wallis said this is the first U.S. Open he has been to in 14 years, since it was last held at Shinnecock.