Golf:

Todd Jackson called it a “once in a lifetime” experience.

He and wife Debbie received a phone call on a cold and snowy Friday in 2009. The following Tuesday, the couple from Knoxville, Tenn., arrived in Newport Beach, the annual Toshiba Classic golf tournament’s host city, with the three-day event scheduled later in the week.

Jackson received word that he was an alternate for the pro-am. He played two days, with a different professional each day (Bruce Vaughan and Wayne Levi).

On Tuesday, I overheard Jackson, an office equipment dealer for Toshiba, say he played in the pro-am. The two of us were riding on a shuttle from the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina parking lot to Newport Beach Country Club, site of the three-day Champions Tour (golfers 50 and older) event Friday through Sunday.

Pro-ams, where amateur foursomes are paired with a different Champions Tour player each day, are held three days this week: Monday, today and Thursday.

Jackson, 55, said he’s a 15 handicap and doesn’t get to play as often as he used to. He praised the welcome he received last year.

“You’re treated like a celebrity,” Jackson said, “and I’m just a regular old person.”

Jennifer Rieker, director of human resources for Hoag Hospital Irvine and Hoag Orthopedic Institute (scheduled to open later this year), played the pro-am for the second straight year and was in the group with Levi, 58, a 12-time PGA Tour winner.

The fivesome, which included Christopher Fox, founder and president of Minuteman Parking Company, finished the best-ball tournament 12-under-par (net, with handicaps taken into account). Rieker, a four-year player on Amherst College’s golf team, tallied a 4 on the par-5 16th, which counted as a 2. Levi carded six birdies, she said.

“[Levi was] quick to congratulate you on the great shots,” Rieker, a Costa Mesa resident, said. “He was not pretentious in the least.”

So what stood out in Rieker’s mind?

“Getting the chance to talk to [Levi], not only watch,” Rieker said, “and to play with someone in the group that plays at that level.”

 Other notes from the Toshiba Classic:

Tuesday was reserved for the Champions Breakfast, Shot from the Top of the roof of Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa, and practice – either on the course, at the range, on the putting green or any combination of the three. Russ Cochran, the 2009 Champions Tour Rookie of the Year, said he was going to spend some time on the putting green. I didn’t know this, but NBCC course superintendent Ron Benedict said the holes on the putting green change each day.

... Minuteman Parking Company donates shuttle service during tournament week, Rieker said.

... Star sighting: Laker great Jerry West strolled through the club’s outdoor grounds Tuesday.

BRYCE ALDERTON’S golf column appears Wednesdays. He may be reached by e-mail at balderto78@yahoo.com.