Michael Block’s meteoric rise after his performance at the PGA Championship was no surprise to those of us who have known him for almost two decades.
This past weekend, the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, Block’s home golf course, in Mission Viejo in California, was the place that buzzed most.
As Block said, the restaurant of the club was crowded all weekend long as members watched Block’s first cut in a Major. They are still riding that wave, just like Block. The club has also received a flood of media requests, lessons by phone and merch orders.
“We have become a family here.” Matthew Donovan is the general manager at Arroyo Trabuco. He told USA TODAY Sports that all of his players and staff have been here for a while and this was not a surprise. “Mike, I think we are all in tears right now. We all love him.”
He’s like a Saint
Donovan stated that Block had spent a lot of time with staff and members at the Arroyo Trabuco course since it opened in 2004. This means he was able to spend a lot of time in the company of them as he worked in Mission Viejo. Donovan called him the most generous man you will ever meet.
“He is like a saint.” Donovan stated that he is a friend to everyone he meets. “That’s the way he treats everyone.” The staff. The golf course maintenance team. He knows a few PGA Tour pros. He treats everyone the same. He is just so likeable.”
The club that was ‘hit by lightening’
Donovan watched Block’s hole-in-one in the final round from his home in Mission Viejo. But when Block made it to the cut he decided to travel to Rochester and see him complete the tournament. Donovan watched Block’s hole-in one during the final round. But Arroyo Trabuco was watching from over 2,000 miles.
Donovan was greeted by a media frenzy when he returned to Arroyo Trabuco on Tuesday. Reporters and journalists wanted to know the reaction of the course. The club was also very busy since Donovan left. Its store had sold out all of its logo shirts on Monday and there were people in line to buy any merchandise.
Donovan replied, “They ask us if we have an online store.” We’ll probably create an online store for sales. We tell people that we didn’t expect this to happen. Let’s get off the ground.
It seems that we were struck by lightning.
Block’s return in Southern California
Donovan said that the course was busy in recent years and continues to be so following Block’s PGA Championship. There’s been a surge of people calling to ask about Block giving golf lessons.
Block’s lessons are not available right now. Donovan stated that Block is able to book his own lessons “so he has the ability to be selective” and also teaches juniors to “grow golf”.
Block’s return is still uncertain. He flew from Fort Worth to Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, for the Charles Schwab Challenge, which starts Thursday. He was also invited by the RBC Canadian Open to be held in Toronto from June 6-11.
Donovan stated that the club was eager to see Block play in his next tournament and he could “do whatever he wanted” to decide when to return.
But Block is eager to return.
“I’ve seen videos. It looks incredible. Block told a Tuesday press conference that Arroyo Trabuco looked “really cool”. “I’m excited to go back and celebrate with everyone who’s working there while I’m here, living my dream.”
