A lifelong love of golf for Jackie King took a slightly different turn Tuesday.
Her dad and grandparents were “big into golf” her entire life, so she grew to love the sport. Her now-fiance, Stephen Fogle, loves the sport too, so when she won the lottery to buy tickets for the Masters Tournament practice round in June 2017, both were excited.
What she didn’t know then was that was when her then-boyfriend started planning his proposal.
He asked her father for permission a month ago and made plans to propose at the 12th hole, one of the most famous on the storied Augusta National Golf Course.
When Fogle and King, who both graduated from Ohio University and live in Columbus, arrived at the course, there were only two things standing between them and engagement.
Fogle didn’t want to pull out the ring in front of King when they went through security, so they instead visited a merchandise area and bought enough stuff to justify Fogle returning to the car. He went with King’s father to drop stuff off, pick up the ring from the car and hustle back to their group.
The second problem, though, was a bit bigger.
“There are no phones allowed on the course, so there was no way to communicate with anyone waiting for us,” Fogle, who had a photographer as well as King’s family members waiting, said.
After some speed walking, they rejoined King and her mother 20 minutes later than intended.
“I had no idea what was coming, so I was like, ‘Why are you guys going so fast?’” King said.
King thought they were just going to take a picture together, but instead, Fogle got on one knee and proposed.
“She asked, ‘Are you really proposing right now?’ And I said yes,” Fogle said.
King said yes, and now the alumni, who have been together since their junior year of college, are planning their wedding. They met when Fogle’s fraternity house was next to King’s sorority house and by having several mutual friends.
“He asked me to be his girlfriend on the bridge by the golf course at OU, so you know, it works,” King said.
