For the vast majority of golfers, the prospect of teeing it up at a major is a thought only in the world of fantasy. Yet, for top-level amateurs and club pros it is a possibility that can quickly become reality.

Ahead of Walton Heath, pre-qualifying was held in July at The Buckinghamshire before final qualifying took place at Hankley Common on Monday. Anyone with a handicap of 0.4 or less can enter, meaning you’re actually just two fantastic rounds away from getting in.

However, there is a different, rather unique way you can tee it up in a major. This only happens now and again and has often gone under the radar. Yesterday, Nicola Taylor, member at Walton Heath and Captain of the Surrey County team, received the invitation to play in the AIG Women’s Open as a marker for Moriya Jutanugarn from Thailand. Teeing off in the first game and cheered on by family and friends, Nicola had a magnificent start with fiancé Jonny, as caddy at her side.

Discussing her experience, Nicola said:

“Amazing. Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s exciting enough as a member here that we’ve got the tournament this week, so to be asked to play or be on stand by in case there’s an odd number was just really exciting, really exciting to be out there.”

Nicola’s participation has only increased the enthusiasm within the membership at Walton Heath. Hosting the AIG Women’s Open for the first time, it’s been looked forward to for years and it has had three tremendous days thus far. This morning, she played alongside Haruka Kawasaki of Japan and whipped round her home course in less than three hours.

Last year at Muirfield, Lindsey Garden, one of the Club’s first female members, likewise had the opportunity to play. Speaking of the nerves, she admitted that she was ‘very nervous’ and that:

“If I topped it off the first tee, I would have swapped you for anything… but it went off okay, so thereafter it was fine.”

The chance to be a ‘weekend marker’ is hard to come by, but when it happens it always generates a heart-warming story. At the 150^th Open, Scott Herald, Senior Instructor at St Andrews Links, teed it up alongside Richard Mansell during the third round. Immensely popular in the Auld Grey Toun and a well-loved coach, he drew a great crowd and there is something just magical about watching someone you know playing amidst the drama and spectacle we normally see on TV.

For friends of those lucky enough to get the chance, it’s such a cool thing to witness. For them, however, it actually must be really nerve-wracking. The stuff of nightmares rather than dreams? David Drysdale, one of the DP World Tour’s longest-standing journeymen, played as a marker alongside John Daly in the 1992 Open at Muirfield. As Junior Assistant Pro at Dunbar at the time, he recalled:

“It was the most nervous I’ve ever been my entire career.”

It was quite the strange experience for Drysdale. Not being in contention, Daly was clearly keen to scamper off and Drysdale found himself quite literally running around so as not to hold up the big-hitting American. I’ve been told they finished in under two hours.

Most tour events typically use a non-playing marker. However, at the Masters, the Open and the AIG Women’s Open, playing markers are preferred to help maintain a rhythm and pace of a typical two ball. They also mark the pro’s card, too, which is obviously useful.

Each year at The Masters, Jeff Knox, Augusta National’s resident playing marker tends to come under the spotlight of the media. Not only does he have the coolest job in golf, but he is also a serious player. In 2014, he played alongside Rory McIlroy. Knox shot 70, McIlroy shot 71.

Getting the ‘tap on the shoulder’ must be one of the most exciting, yet spine-tingling feelings. One thing is for sure: the playing marker is one of golf’s most unique and interesting quirks and when it happens is always fun to watch. Well done to Nicola on her participation this weekend. Here’s a snap of Nicola’s post-round treat in the player’s pavilion. Well deserved – it was really fun to watch.