"Knuckleheads" on the 7th Hole make it the fun place to be

What started as a small group of guys from Sacramento coming to South Lake Tahoe for a fun time at celebrity golf has turned into an iconic. must-be-at part of the whole American Century Golf Championship experience.

As one walks the course, the antics of the boys can be heard. Chanting, singing, whatever insults they can come up with about the golfers carry through the woods. As I hung out at the 7th Tee box on Thursday I was kept entertained and laughing the whole time, well, that is until a football meant for Herm Edwards knocked the phone right out of my hands. But that was just a moment, and the fun went on.

Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network, has been impressed with how "the boys" entertained both the celebrities and the gallery. During Friday's press conference announcing a seven year contract extension for the tournament in South Lake Tahoe, Miller said this:

"I don't know if any have seen but he already tweeted something out from his experience on the seventh hole yesterday with the great knuckleheads who come down from Sacramento. And he tweeted, this is the best golf hole ever. Well, when Justin Timberlake tweets something he tweets it to 46.3 million followers. So that's the size of a few small countries."

This year, there was a new twist to the group of friends hanging out near the tee box. Miller let them put up a tent advertising the business that a few of the group founded. wimZr.com is the brainchild of John Parilo and Blake Mori. It is a Sacramento-based social-media app designed for travelers that will be part of this year's SuperBowl. Members of the wimZr team were among the 47 friends hanging out on the hole. They also brought in the cute girls in short skirts to add to the experience.

"The Boys from Sacramento" toss in penalty flags if they think the golfers participating in the Celeb-Am Tournament have hit a poor shot and shout out insults all meant in fun.

Cris Collinsworth broke out in an old Mac Davis song when he greeted the Sacramento boys. They all joined him in singing, Oh Lord It's Hard To Be Humble.

Justin Timberlake jokingly hid from the boys, telling them "I've heard about you."
He joined in an ended up in one of the fun pictures from the tournament when Timberlake let them pick him up.

Herm Edwards played a game of football with them.

When Mark Rypien arrived, he took his shoes off and said "Don't you have anyone better than him?" "Him" was Mori. For the past few years, Mori joins the foursome for the hole and the two tee off barefoot, then chugs cans of beer.

Then, there's A.J. Hawk. After last year's video of the now Cincinnati Bengal tackling Ben Heaps went viral, who knew what to expect. In an interview two weeks ago, Hawk challenged Heaps to come up with something better. So, upon my early arrival to the hole on Thursday I told Heaps that the challenge was on. Heaps, who was wearing large arm brace protecting his ruptured bicep wasn't sure what they were going to do this year, but he had time to plan (and beers to drink). By the time Hawk arrived on the hole, a dozen photographers were there waiting to get the antics on film.

The arm brace came off and the tackle was on.

What will be between them in 2016 we'll have to wait and see. "I need to keep one upping him," said Hawk. "I'll start thinking about it today."

After the tackle, I asked Heaps how he felt. "He knows how to hit, that's for sure. Next year I'll have to collaborate with my boys more."

One of the regular attendees, Brian Herman, couldn't make it this year. His friends created a cardboard cutout of him that was on display all day.

And, if you missed it Thursday, you'll have to wait until next year. They are only allowed to do what they do prior to the official start of the tournament.

I know where I'll hang out in 2016!