Attending US Open - Hospitality Tent Expectations

Was offered a pair of tickets to the US Open in June.. pretty excited.. never been to a live golf event before so looking forward to it.

Some questions to the seasoned pros...

- What to bring? i know hat/sunscreen/small pack.. i know we can have our phone now.. anything else i should bring?

- Camera policy - we're going on Sunday, so apparently no photos anywhere?  Not even if you're in the middle of nowhere taking some scenery shots after all the players have played through? (i.e. you're on hole 1 after everybody's teed off)..?

obviously anywhere remotely close to live action is nono..

- In general, are there going to be food/drinks at the hospitality tent? (or should we bring them? buy them there?)

- Viewing - are there seats at/near the tent area? or that's more an area to gather and chill, but we would still go out and walk the course / camp out a hole?  I have no idea what to expect here

- Is it better to walk or camp?  and how early do you have to get there to camp out on those holes? (or is it better just to sit on a grand stand?)

- There's apparently a Amex / Centurion lounge - what's in it? worth visiting? (we have the Plat card so we can get in)

- Lexus lounge - take photo with the trophy etc.. i'm assuming these are free to go into?

- any other general advice? (we play golf, so understand the basic etiquette of golf, so more curious about tips/insights on attending a tourney, especially a major).

Thanks!!

I'm from the Seattle area and I'm sure they are going to have to shuttle people in.  There is no parking around the course and you have to drive through a residential neighborhood to get there.  It's strange.  They bus people in for the Boeing classic too and it's pretty seamless.

I would spend some time camped at the #9 par 3.  It will be a fun watch.  ;)  Other than that... I would follow your favorites around.

How early do i have to get to hole 9 to get a spot near the ropes?

and in general when should i get to the event? are people staying over Sat night in the area to start at 7am?!

Download this:

http://www.usopen.com/pdfs/Spectator_Guide.pdf

It will have the answers to a lot of your questions.  I found the equivalent very helpful when I went to the 2008 US Open practice rounds.

Hospitality tents are great.  Free food and booze.  TVs with the golf coverage.  The ones I've been in were air conditioned, which was great at the 1994 US Open because it was Africa hot that week.  Enjoy.

Went to the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst last year (I live 30 mins away, but have never played it! :( always good to dream though!)  First off, its insanely crowded!  And for me, being in the Sandhills of NC it was insanely hot as well.  I'm sure it being in Washington state this year it will be a little cooler for you.  The one thing I would recommend is that you don't walk all over the place.  It's good to find somewhere to camp out for a bit, because dealing with the large crowds and walking all day can get you agitated and tired really quick!

Hope this helps some!