Shuttle bus ride part of the Senior Open experience
August 3, 2010
By Christopher Huber
The first day of championship rounds July 29 saw more than 20,000 spectators flock to Sahalee Country Club, potentially a record for any U.S. Senior Open opening round, said championship director Mike Zinga.
“It went really well,” he said early July 30. “The system was tested first thing.”
The buses route from Marymoor Park allowed visitors a look at Lake Sammamish. Photo by Greg Farrar
And as the crowds would grow to an estimated 30,000-40,000 each day leading up to the Aug. 1 final round, organizers spent ample time and resources planning logistics, such as a shuttle service.
Leading up to the tournament, some Sammamish residents had concerns about traffic and general access for residents near Sahalee.
The event coordinators decided on a central hub for parking and shuttle pick-up and drop-off service: Marymoor Park in Redmond.
In the end, locals who rode the free shuttle tended to appreciate the seamless flow and quick service, despite having to drive to Redmond to get to the Sammamish-based event.
The alternative — allowing parking at Marymoor and at various points in Sammamish — could have caused more headaches than solutions, said Lee Fellinge, current resident and former mayor of Sammamish.
“When you look at the incredible mass of cars and busses, to have that all in the city would just choke the city,” Fellinge said as he rode the shuttle to the Senior Open July 30.
He said Marymoor was probably the best location simply because of its sheer capacity. Cars lined in neat rows as far as the eye could see.
The operations company running the show, Alabama-based Bruno Event Team, also had approximately 60 locally chartered school busses and drivers in a constant rotation from about 7 a.m. to the last returned spectator, Zinga said.
It was like clockwork. Busses left every two to five minutes, carrying up to 48 passengers each per trip. The ride only took about 10 minutes.
“It’s been enjoyable,” said Lila Peil, a driver from the Seattle School District, halfway through her shift July 30. “I’ve not had a crabby (passenger) yet.”
Fellinge said he worried about the negative impact the logistics plan would have on Sammamish businesses, but trusted organizers considered that in the process.
“That’s too bad,” he said.
Ultimately, Fellinge and other riders said they didn’t mind the extra few minutes it took to get to the event.
“I don’t really mind,” Fellinge said. “It’s part of the experience.”
Alan Bender and Steve Enos, neighbors from Sammamish, both said the shuttle service seemed efficient and easy to use.
“It’s really an efficient way to move people in and out of the event,” said Enos.
Bender, who lives just 10 minutes from the course, agreed and added that it didn’t take as much time as he expected to get to and from the Senior Open.
“(It took) 45 minutes from sitting at the event to my house,” Bender said.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com.
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A well written article, however it is unfortunate that you did not include the bus companies name. You cited the Seattle School District as you quoted the school bus driver. First Student is the contractor that provided the service for the USSO. Seattle Schools also contract with First Student. A shame that you failed to provide the credit where it was due.