Loud Crowds

[enduro]

What do you guys think of the loud crowds at events, like this latest Buick Open? Specifically, the 17th hole.

I'm mixed on it. On one hand its cool fans get to act like crazy fans for a hole. They more or less keep it down during the serious part (the swing) and the players (especially Woods) are really good at milking the time and really taking their time and letting people calm down and then explode on the shot.

On the other hand it's extremely annoying to watch golf and here so much crap in the background throughout the telecast. And I'm sure it isn't better on the greens.

Is this the way we want professional golf tournaments to go? Would this ever be allowed at Augusta? Is this the future of golf?

[BASHERBAKER69]

I think that the sort of antics that we witnessed at The Buick are exclusive to that event, because, it is/was a second tier event and Tiger was playing-it became more of an exhibition event in my view (bordering on farcical)-this mixed in with the booze and really anything can happen...people got a little overexcited. It's good to see sometimes but should be confined to the less classy stages- I wouldn't want to see it at Augusta or at The British Open.

That said, times are a changin', as tennis used to be a genteel game, but ive heard of brawls at tennis matches (Davis Cup), and intimidating behaviour on the part of spectators. Who says this can't happen in golf?....Im still waiting for a player to be seriously assaulted at in event in the USA or Europe....It's coming Im sure if we let standards of behaviour slip too low.

[plugged]

Enthusiastic crowds are OK, but that is not what I saw and heard on TV yesterday. Pretty soon the crowds at Tour events are going to resemble those at professional wrestling.

The truth is that society is becoming more impolite every day. That is being reflected in the crowds at Tour events and will continue to be more of a problem in the future IMO. It seems like you now have a half-dozen ******** at every tee box and green yelling at the top of their lungs "GET IN THE HOLE!". Rude behavior is a competition sport, apparently.

I ultimately fault the Tour officials. When they start policing this more, maybe it will stop.

[Zeph]

Enthusiasm for the game and the players is fine, but the display on the 17th last week was more a result of excess amount of alcohol.

[opie]

Enthusiasm for well played shots is great. Clapping, cheering etc.

Hollering stuff out like it's the Jerry Springer show has got to go

[DavidFehertysBike]

The crowds at the buick didnt bother me. I think any live sport is made better by a carnival type atmosphere. It pumps up the energy into an otherwise boring sport to watch.

[mdvaldosta]

Yea the crowds were loud, but you know they were fairly respectful from what I saw on TV. They all (from what I could tell) stayed quiet when they were supposed to. Look, the PGA NEEDS golf fans more than the fans need the PGA. Let them get excited and have a good time at events, as long as they civil and respectful when they're supposed to be.

[enduro]

Let them get excited and have a good time at events, as long as they civil and respectful when they're supposed to be.

That's how I feel but what about players on adjacent holes? You could here the crowd chanting "Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!" while the guy golfing with the Tiger on the 16th was trying to putt. That has to be a little distracting and unfair...

[enduro]

I think that the sort of antics that we witnessed at The Buick are exclusive to that event, because, it is/was a second tier event and Tiger was playing-it became more of an exhibition event in my view (bordering on farcical)-this mixed in with the booze and really anything can happen...people got a little overexcited.

I believe the event in Phoenix is very similar. I think they have a rowdy par 3 and a rowdy crowd in general.

[enduro]

The crowds at the buick didnt bother me. I think any live sport is made better by a carnival type atmosphere. It pumps up the energy into an otherwise boring sport to watch.

So, do you see nearly every tournament having a par 3 somewhere on the course that is "arena style"? A single hole, an easy one at that, where players get to get a chance at making a great shot in front of an enthusiastic gallery?

[DavidFehertysBike]

So, do you see nearly every tournament having a par 3 somewhere on the course that is "arena style"? A single hole, an easy one at that, where players get to get a chance at making a great shot in front of an enthusiastic gallery?

I see no problem with it. Why not?

[enduro]

I see no problem with it. Why not?

I'm not really sure how I feel about it. I think it's cool and a modern way to enjoy the game live. I don't like how the noise resonates across adjacent holes though. And it's insanely annoying to watch on TV and here "Aussie blah blah blah!!! USA USA USA!!!!!" over and over.

I'm trying to enjoy the mental aspect of the game, watching the player move around...their eyes...the abience of the silence around him, just some birds chirping and maybe a light applause in the distance. The loud noise coming from nearby and picked up by the adjacent holes mic's ruin that element for me. But, when they show players on the 17th, its pretty cool to hear the crowd go bonkers for good shots. I guess I'm a classic case of wanting my cake and eating it too.

[Motley01]

I thought to myself, cut the beers off!!!, and be respectfull.. But then I thought to myself, these people have had MORE of a rough time with job-loss in that part of the country, and the poor people need to have fun and forget about LIFE for a while.

Personally I hate when PGA Tournaments sound like football games, but there are certain situations you have to keep an open mind about.

Besides, the players, including Tiger didn't seem to bother them, in fact Tiger had a smiling smirk on his face.

Hey, if we didn't have alcohol to drink, have fun, and forget about the tough times everyone is having right now, then everyone would kill each other.

[BASHERBAKER69]

It's fair to say that on the US PGA tour loud, but not necessarily unpleasant crowd antics are to be expected, whereas on the European tour things are usually a bit quieter. It's just a normal thing in my view and nothing out of the ordinary.

As has already been suggested, the PGA tour needs 'match revenue' from spectators and people cooming through the gates with the family. Let's face it, if a family/group of spectators can't have a bit of fun at a golf tournament, they may choose to have a day out watching football, baseball or tennis etc.

[DavidFehertysBike]

It's fair to say that on the US PGA tour loud, but not necessarily unpleasant crowd antics are to be expected, whereas on the European tour things are usually a bit quieter. It's just a normal thing in my view and nothing out of the ordinary.

Yeah, exactly. Make the event fun to and memorable to attend. As long as the gallery is respectful while the players play their shots, i dont think it should matter what they do before or after. As far as crowd noise getting to other holes, their isnt a way around that. But i remember Jack Nicklaus saying once in an interview that hearing the dull roars from other holes on the back nine at Augusta always pumped him up, so maybe the players like it too.

[RCF]

When Tiger was on the 17th on Saturday, I heard, on my TV a very high pitched scream that hurt my ears.

I'm assuming it was a female, but that does not matter. He or she let out that insane scream before he teed off and just after. It was worst than Bethpage.

IMO, that's not the way to save the Buick Open.

[songwriter]

I didn't care for it. They were doing chants like at a basketball game and I think that sets a bad example for how to act at a golf tournament. And that won't work.

[microcrayfish]

That's how I feel but what about players on adjacent holes? You could here the crowd chanting "Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!" while the guy golfing with the Tiger on the 16th was trying to putt. That has to be a little distracting and unfair...

I don't think it would bother them that much because it's just background noise. Maybe pros see it differently but I know that if there are people talking in the background, or a plane going overhead, or whatever, it doesn't bother me because it's continuous noise and not starting in the middle of my swing.