Phil Rice sat back in a folding chair parked on the edge of the gallery rope on the 16th hole of Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. In his hand, he clenched a rolled-up poster that, when unraveled, revealed images of athletes whom Rice hoped to add to his collection of signatures.
The American Century Championship has been a major draw for autograph collectors, like Rice, since its inception in 1990. In a setting that brings together 90 celebrities, ranging from athletes to actors, it’s a gold mine for those looking to snag a signature to add to their collection.
“17 is just a full adrenaline rush, playing that hole and being in front of the fans (with) the lakeside there,” Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. “That walk (between 17 and 18) is underrated. It’s a good gathering spot, and there’s a lot of activity over there. The fans are awesome.”
Among those spectators is Rice. He’s an avid golf fan from Cincinnati, Ohio, who travels to tournaments across the country, aiming to garner autographs from his favorite NFL and NBA legends. He’s been coming to Tahoe for the past three years and enjoys the mixture of weather, scenery and the star-studded lineup at the ACC tournament.
“I like golf. My son played high school golf, so we’re golfers at home,” Rice said. “Just being able to see some of the people that you grew up (with) play, it’s a neat event. It’s a beautiful event.”
His strategy?
Get to the center of the action and get there early.
“I think it’s the best location here, between 16 and 17,” Rice said. “You have the drinks and the food over here, and it’s just a good location.”
Unlike some collectors, who gather autographed merchandise to resell on sites like eBay, he doesn’t plan to sell any of his autographed memorabilia.
“I haven’t sold one thing, and I’ve probably got everybody’s autograph for the past three years,” Rice said. “It’s not for me.”
The resale market has created a stigma around adults trying to garner signatures.
Chuck Darling and Don Bonnin, who have been collecting autographs for decades, have experienced it firsthand – even though they insist that they don’t participate in selling their autographed merchandise.
“We’re lumped into that group,” Darling said. “Even though that’s not something we’re doing it for.”
“It makes it a little tougher for us because everybody says, ‘Oh, you’re eBay guys,’” Bonnin said.
Darling says he works with about 280 charitable foundations, donating the signed cards and gear to help raise money for charity. In a clear plastic bag, he houses jerseys, baseballs and other items he’s hoping to get signed at the celebrity golf tournament.
For them, it’s the thrill of tracking down the athletes that drives their desire to hunt down autographs.
It’s become a tradition for the pair to trek out from Texas and chase superstars on the links in Tahoe. They’ve been coming out to the event since NBA legend Michael Jordan used to play in it, citing him as their favorite signature they’ve collected over the years. And, even after all the years of collecting, that excitement hasn’t dissipated.
“It’s just about having fun, and if we run across them, then (it’s) great,” Bonnin said. “Getting out of the heat to come here is a joy.”