Behind the Scenes -- Gordon Hanscom

June Casagrande

NAME: Gordon Hanscom

HOME: Costa Mesa

JOB TITLE: Course services chairman

HE IS

Getting the goodies where they need to go

DAILY DUTIES

When you see a Toshiba visor, a Cadillac cap or a golfer enjoying a

quick snack out on the course, you’re seeing the work of Gordon Hanscom.

As chairman over about 50 volunteers in the course services division,

Hanscom oversees the tournament’s entire operation for distributing

merchandise on the course.

On Tuesday, this meant receiving 15 cases of caps for event sponsor

Cadillac. The hats don’t need to be distributed until later in the week,

so Hanscom and his fellow volunteers will hold on to them until it’s time

for them to cart them across the course to Cadillac’s tent.

But sponsors’ promotional items are just part of the parcel

distribution that Hanscom oversees. Ensuring there are refreshments

available for players and VIP spectators is also a top priority. Expo

tents, sky boxes and hospitality tents all must be stocked with cold

drinks and snacks.

Hanscom took a week off work to chip in 12- and 13-hour days as a

volunteer throughout the tournament.

“I love golf, and this is better than being in an office,” said

Hanscom, partner of mortgage firm Norcapital Funding Corp. “It’s great to

get out here and watch the pros do their thing.”

Hanscom, a pilot for the Marine Corps for 10 years, has been an active

volunteer in the local community, especially for Hoag Hospital, a major

beneficiary of the charity tournament. In past years, he also volunteered

for the Toshiba Senior Classic, though this is his first year in course

services -- a stint that started with distributing 1,000 potted plants

and trees all over the course.

“I can’t take too much credit for the backbreaking work on that,” he

said. “We had a lot of help.”

Notably, student golfers of Corona del Mar High School came out to

lend a hand distributing the plants all over the course.

“It’s really fantastic out here -- beautiful,” Hanscom said. “The

course looks great.”

DID YOU KNOW

Snickers bars are a favorite among golfers on the tournament. Along

with the candy bars, granola bars, apples and bananas are in plentiful

supply for the golfers. Sodas are plentiful, too, but bottled water,

Hanscom said, is the beverage of choice.