Golf pro supports charity golf event, experiences ride of a lifetime

  • Published
  • By Richard W. Essary
  • 75th Air Base Wing Pubic Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  She's known for being one of the longest hitters on the tour, and Brittany Lincicome, a professional golfer with the LPGA, amiably visited Utah's northern most military installation recently to support a charity golf event and strap into an F-16 "Fighting Falcon" for the ride of a lifetime.

Lincicome, who resides in Seminole, Fla., supported the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah's annual Commander's Cup charity golf tournament Oct. 1 at Hill AFB's Hubbard Memorial Golf Course.

The Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah, a private, non-profit organization has the primary mission of providing capital support for the Hill Aerospace Museum, which is located on Hill AFB, and has raised thousands of dollars each year in direct support of the museum.

The museum, purportedly the largest Air Force museum west of the Mississippi River, preserves and displays historically significant military static aircraft and artifacts, and offers a number of exhibits and educational programs for youth and adults.

Lincicome's participation in this year's Commander's Cup charity golf event was an obvious boon for tournament organizers who wanted to draw the largest number of players they could to participate in the event.

"While we've had PGA professionals such as Tom Watson, Mike Weir and Johnny Miller join us for past Commander's Cups, this is the first time (we had) an LPGA professional with us," said retired Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Sullivan, Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah board member.

Before the tournament, where 30 teams made up of four amateurs and one professional per team played against each other in a Las Vegas Modified Scramble, Lincicome held a free golf clinic where she answered questions from tournament goers and put on a demonstration on the course's driving range.

"This (was) a great opportunity to play golf at one of Utah's premier courses, take in a clinic with a five-time LPGA Tour winner, and contribute to the year's single largest fundraiser for the Hill Aerospace Museum," said retired Lt. Gen. Marc Reynolds, chairman of the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah.

Hubbard Memorial Golf Course director of golf, Tony Angelico, couldn't agree more.

"(We were) thrilled to have her here. She's a pretty big name in women's golf," Angelico said.

Angelico was instrumental in getting Lincicome to participate in this year's Commander's Cup having met her last year at a PGA merchandise show in Lincicome's home state.

For many people, becoming a professional golfer would be a dream come true; however, the day after the tournament, Lincicome had a chance to make one of her longtime dreams a reality.

Lincicome put her clubs aside for a few hours to experience firsthand what the thrill of flying in one of the world's premier fighter jets is all about.

But it wasn't all fun and games.

Lincicome was required to visit an Air Force flight doctor to make sure she was fit to fly and received a "crash course" on the F-16 including how it operates and how to safely egress in the event of an unlikely emergency.

When all was said and done, Lincicome found herself in the backseat of an F-16 piloted by Lt. Col. Jim "Grata" Greenwald, an Air Force Reserve pilot from the 419th Fighter Wing.

The Reserve 419th Fighter Wing shares aircraft with Hill AFB's active duty 388th Fighter Wing under the Air Force's Total Force Integration initiative. Together the wings operate and maintain the Air Force's largest combat-capable fleet of F-16s.

Lincicome, undoubtedly accustomed to pressure moments and controlling her nerves on the LPGA Tour, admitted she was somewhat apprehensive about the flight.

"I was a little nervous," she said.

"I (jokingly) told the pilot when we got out on to the runway, is it too late to turn around," Lincicome said. "And he was like, yes."

The flight, which lasted for nearly an hour over the Utah Test and Training Range located in Utah's west desert, was intended to expose Lincicome to the remarkable capabilities of the multirole F-16 and the pilots who fly it.

The Air Force occasionally provides orientation flights to civilians because of their interaction with large audiences and to further public understanding of Air Force missions, people, and weapons systems, as well as to help convey the Air Force story.

"It was incredible," Lincicome said. "You have no idea what to expect. When you take off it feels like you're going a thousand miles per hour, but up in the air it felt like time just stood still."

Lincicome said her flight was "a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"I did well and pulled 9Gs. I didn't pass out and I didn't get sick," she said.

Lincicome summed up her flight and visit to Hill AFB by giving her thoughts about the military men and women serving around the world.

"One person cannot thank them enough for what they do for us," Lincicome said. "It's so cool to be here, it's an honor to be here and I'm going to remember this day forever.

"It's been an incredible day."