Tips for Attending a Professional Golf Tournament

I’ve been fortunate to attend many golf tournaments. My first was in 1984 as I watched Bob Tway hole a bunker shot to defeat Greg Norman on the 18th at Inverness for the PGA Championship. Most recently I saw the 2003 British Open at Royal St. George. While I’ve had a blast at every tournament I’ve been to, I’ve always found it difficult to attend a tournament and not feel as though I’ve seen all I could. I’ve finally come to the realization that it’s impossible to see everything – the players, the course, the spectacles – unless you’re there for multiple days.

To make the most of your trip to a professional tournament, I’ve put together a quick “how-to” guide. Take advantage of my experience to make your visit to a professional golf tournament even better.

Planning: Hike or Camp?
The first step in any successful trip is planning. What do you really want to see? Are you attending the tournament to watch your favorite player hit it around or do you want to see the whole course? Do you want to watch everyone play the same hole and compare their games? Or do you want to wander, drink some beer, and eat some hot dogs?

I’ve attended tournaments with different focuses in mind: to see players, the course, and a round of golf. At Royal St. George, I was determined to see the whole course and get a feel for how the wind and weather conditions affected the players. I didn’t care who it was I watched play, I just wanted to walk the course, hole one through eighteen, just like a player. I followed various groups on holes and would rest at a hole if I wanted to see how players were playing different shots into or around that particular green.

Hike – It’s also fun to follow one of your favorite players. When I attended The Memorial in 1998, I was determined to see Fred Couples, my favorite, and Doug Martin, a professional from my hometown. Luckily, their tee-times offset each other and I followed each of them around for nine holes. It worked out really well. I had played the course in high school, so I knew the fastest way to get from place to place. Additionally, I could watch how the professionals would manage their way around the course and compare it with my own game. I learned more watching 18 holes of golf than I ever have in 18 lessons.

Camp – Another way to watch a tournament is to camp out at a hole and watch all the players hit a certain shot. I’ve found that par threes and second shots into shorter par fives offer the most excitement. The Champions Tour played the US Open at the Inverness Club in 2003. I had played there and fell in love with the twelfth, a short par three over water. When I got there, bleacher seats were available. I grabbed a top-row seat and was able to see the approach shots into 12, the tee shots off 15, and the tough up-and-down recovery shots on 14, a long par four. I got to see every Champions Tour player that day.

Regardless of the route you decide to get, set your plan before you arrive. You can waste valuable time if you try to wing it.

What to Bring (and Not)
Most professional tour events prohibit the use of cellphones, BlackBerries, MP3 players, and any other device that could make noise. In fact, most tournaments will not allow someone to enter with these devices. Leave them at home or in the car. For one thing, it’s completely annoying to other spectators and second – and most importantly – it bothers the professionals. Most likely, you don’t want your camera thrown in the water by Stevie Williams, so don’t bring it. Some tournaments allow cameras during practice rounds, so check before you head to the course.

Of course, the list of things you should bring is quite long in and of itself and includes: Gore-Tex raingear, sunscreen, lip balm, hat, sunglasses, binoculars, comfortable shoes, and plenty of drinking water. Also, be sure to check the weather forecast a couple of days in advance. At both the 2003 Memorial and 2000 Jamie Farr Kroger Classic, I endured several days of rainy, wet, cold weather. Many people attending didn’t have proper rain gear and tried to use umbrellas. That made it difficult for them to move around and get up next to the ropes. Not me. I had Gore-Tex on and no umbrella (I didn’t want to mess with carrying one), which afforded me the mobility I needed to get in front of them and still remain fairly comfortable.

Etiquette
If you’ve ever played a round of golf at a fancy country club, you know how to behave at a professional golf tournament. Additionally, do as you’re told by the workers and volunteers. You can tell who they are because they are all dressed alike and are standing on the opposite side of the ropes, keeping distance between the players and the crowds. If they raise their hands or the quiet sign, that means the crowd should be quiet. Cheer at appropriate times, but otherwise be mindful of any noise you might be making. Not every tournament has a stadium-like atmosphere.

Be courteous to the players, as they are competing Thursday through Sunday. They’re trying to make a living just like you and I do Monday through Friday. To be successful in their line of work, they need to be able to concentrate. A single distraction may cost a player a half a million dollars. If you’re interested in getting right up next to the players and chatting with them, tournament rounds are not the right time. I suggest autograph seekers and picture-takers attend practice rounds and pro-ams. Players are generally more approachable and will sign autographs and interact with spectators while playing.

Have Fun!
Above all, have fun! If you’re mindful of the guidelines I’ve laid out, and courteous when necessary, you’ll have a blast. There’s nothing like a professional golf tournament. “These Guys are Good” doesn’t begin to explain the awe-inspiring play you’ll likely see, even if the players aren’t “guys.”

One quick story to end. I was at a Wednesday practice round at the British Open in 2003. Mike Weir was on the tee at the 18th and hit what looked like a great drive, right down the center of the fairway. I said, “Nice ball, Mike.” He looked at me like I was crazy. He teed up another and hit a ball about 30 yards left of the fairway (at least it looked that way). I decided to follow him up there to see where both drives ended up. The first one was in the long, gnarly rough and the second was sitting pretty.

I guess he knew what he was doing. Man, did I feel stupid.

Photo Credit: © GolfInternationalmag.co.uk