Pro Am or practice round...

[GDWindowpane]

I'm taking the family to the AT&T; National this year. This will be our first Tour event attended. I've read numerous threads regarding the question of following a group or camping out on a hole. I think we've got that figured out.

My older son and I are now thinking of going two days instead of one. The two of us will probably go Thursday for the first day of play. The other day I'm considering either the practice round on Tuesday or the Pro Am on Wednesday. We'd like to beat the crowds, get some autographs etc. Me and my sons will be interested in seeing the golfers while my wife might enjoy seeing some celebrities (if there will be any) during the Pro Am. Do the tour players sign autographs during the Pro Ams? Are they more "fun" to watch then a practice round?

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

[Canuck]

Ive always like going on Thursdays or/and Sunday because the feel of being there watching them go for the win is so great and you can see the pressure. Tuesday or Wednesday is a good day to go and get autographs and chat it up a little.

[Wazzu8]

From my '98 PGA Championship experience.. practice rounds get you the autographs

[Damien45]

The other thing to consider is what days do they allow cameras to be brought in. When I went to the Pro-Am here in Monterey, they didn't let me bring my camera in because it was during the round. I was working the days of the Practice/Pro-Am (Tues-Thur). I went on that Friday. I wasn't dissapointed with the day, just that I don't have photos! lol

[netsniper]

Always love going to the practice rounds. I always choose those over the pro am days.

[Clambake]

For what you're looking for, I'd do the practice round and not the pro-am. The pro-am is about the amateurs who have usually paid a lot of money to participate, along with their sponsoring companies. Because there is competitive golf going on, the pros will be much more focused on the golf and their amateur partner. In the practice round they'll be much more loose and talkative and approachable.

[GDWindowpane]

do the pros and/or amatuers win money in the pro-am? Happen to know ball park what it costs to get into a pro-am? Thanks!

[goblue107501]

do the pros and/or amatuers win money in the pro-am? Happen to know ball park what it costs to get into a pro-am? Thanks!

I do not know about the PGA Tour, only the Nationwide events. No one wins money at the pro-am. If you get one of the top places you walk out with a pretty nice trophy, plaque, or something similar. The pros get paid to play in them but they don't win anything. At some of the more relaxed type pro-ams the pros will pony up for a skins pot and sometimes a low score pot.

As far as the cost goes...for a mid level Nationwide event my company donates $10,000 for 4 spots in the Wednesday (the good one) pro-am. There are several others through the week at other courses but this is the best one as you get to play on the tournament course. The others are typically anywhere from $500-$1000 a person to play. It is more about sucking up to the title sponsor and showing them that you are donating to their cause. Way too much for a round of golf, but you have to do it. It doesn't come out of my check so I don't care, and it is a fun round of golf. To the OP, don't go to the pro-am round if you can avoid it. The pros will be more concerned about taking care of, and being friendly with, the folks who payed big bucks to play with a pro.

[billm408]

I'd go to a practice round. It's interesting see what the pros look for approaching a hole and offers an up close view of their course management strategy.

Don't know about other events, but the AT&T; is invitation only for the amateurs. I think the cost is somewhere around a $2500 entry fee but don't quote me.

[GoonerGolfer]

Hello I am a beginner at golf. I was thinking about attending the practice day before the BMW PGA at Wentworth. From reading some of your posts it sounds like spectators can sometimes get close up to the pros which is not that easy at the actual tournaments. Do you think a beginner would benefit much from attending and is it best to stay with 1 player or group ?