Bubba Has Fun with Blue Wahoos Fans and Staff
Published on May 23, 2015 under Southern League (SL1)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos News Release
Bubba Watson Enters the Dunk Tank
(Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Credit: Barrett McClean/BlueWahoos.com)
PENSACOLA, Fla., - So what does someone who has won two U.S. Masters championships do for fun on his break from the PGA tour?
If you're Pensacola, Fla.'s Bubba Watson you attend your new minor league team's homestand.
Watson is attending the Pensacola Blue Wahoos five-game series against the Jackson Generals.
And you let fans and staffers throw balls to dunk you in a tank of freezing water. For a $1 throw to benefit the local YMCA, they got to wind up and dunk team owners Quint Studer and Watson, who were set up in tanks across from one another.
Watson laughed about volunteering Studer for the fundraiser without getting his approval first.
"Who doesn't want to dunk someone in the water?" Watson asked before the dunking commenced. "If you've ever seen my social media accounts, you know I love doing fun stuff."
On opening night, Watson chased the Critter Gitter Roach Run at a brisk walk. Hey, he's a golfer used to walking for five hours, he said. Watson also has other fun up his sleeve, such as doing various jobs around the ballpark and signing autographs on Monday.
Watson learned quickly that they didn't warm the water up for him. He nearly drowned, losing count of how many times he went under water in his camouflage swim trunks and gray Blue Wahoos T-shirt. Studer wore khaki trunks and a life jacket.
Robert Richie, a 32-year-old engineer, took his throws at the Blue Wahoos co-owner and pro golfer.
"It's all for a good cause," said Richie, who dunked Watson. "It's great to see such good public figures step out of their comfort zone and do something like this for our city."
YMCA of Northwest Florida Executive Director Michael Bodenhausen said he was appreciative of the gesture by Watson and Studer. Studer donated the downtown property the new Y is being built on. Bodenhausen said more than 75 percent of funds have been raised, so far.
"This is awesome," said Bodenhausen, who threw one ball at Watson. "Quint (Studer) has been a huge part of this community."
Watson said he admires Studer's community leadership and it was the reason he got involved with the Blue Wahoos baseball team. Well, that, and LeBron James returning to his hometown in Cleveland, he said jokingly.
"I said, 'Oh, oh, LeBron is going back, I can go back, too,'" Watson said.
In all seriousness, Watson said he and the Studers share similar goals when it comes to improving Pensacola.
"I wanted to be part of that," Watson said. "I met with him to and asked questions about how I could do better in the community and how to influence people in a better way."
Watson said he will return to the links for the U.S. Open at the Chambers Bay Golf Course in Washington next month. He said he plans to arrive two weeks ahead of time to play the course, which he said he's played twice before. Watson expects the PGA to put its own spin on Chambers Bay.
"I wanted to do a lot of things and take some time off and get energized," Watson said. "I know the rough will be different and the green speeds different."
After the dunk tanks, at least Watson knows where he stands with his wife, Angie, and son, Caleb.
Both didn't skip the chance to get in on the fun and dunk him. The young Caleb gave his dad a high five afterward. His wife fired a strike and dunked her husband, right after he pleaded: "I've been so nice to you!"
The Blue Wahoos return home to play the Jackson Generals May 21st-25th. Come experience the family-fun entertainment! You can follow the team at BlueWahoos.com, facebook.com/PensacolaBlueWahoos andtwitter.com/BlueWahoosBBall.
Images from this story
 Bubba Watson Enters the Dunk Tank (Barrett McClean/BlueWahoos.com) |
 Bubba Watson in the Dunk Tank (Barrett McClean/BlueWahoos.com) |
 Bubba Watson with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Barrett McClean/BlueWahoos.com) |
 Bubba Watson Enters the Dunk Tank (Barrett McClean/BlueWahoos.com) |
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