The 2009 Barclay's Practice Round - My Experience

[CG031]

I wasn't sure where to post this thread. I just got back a few hours ago from the Practice Round at The Barclay's in Jersey City, NJ. The course was awesome, but extremely difficult. It was on the level of a major from a few people I talked to around the course. Rough was really thick, 7,400 yards, and extreme winds will have the scores high this week.

It was pretty cool seeing the players during the practice round, but I'd suggest going to a competitive round if you are a serious golf fan. It's awesome to get autographs (more on that later), but if you want to see really good golf shots and the players take things serious, don't go to a Practice round. They are boring in that respect. They play a few balls per hole, and don't even remove the flagstick while on the green, and hole out virtually nothing.

I got about 15 autograhps from the following players:
- Y.E. Yang
- Boo Weekly
- Justin Driscoll
- Sean O'hair
- Ernie Els
- Ryan Moore
- Aaron Baddely
- Bubba Watson
- Padraig Harrington
- Bill Haas
- Kevin Stadler
- Luke Donald
- Ben Curtis

Almost all the guys were cool about signing, and very friendly.


I also took a bunch of pictures. Here are just a few, I won't bore you to death with photos as my camera skills aren't that great, neither is my camera itself.









Overall it was a fun time, but in the end if you really want to see some great golf your better off going Thurs-Sun as oppose to the practice rounds...

[iacas]

- Justin Driscoll

I hope you called him James or said "Thanks James" after he signed.

[CG031]

I hope you called him James or said "Thanks James" after he signed.

LOL!

I didn't even know who he was, so I guess I got the name wrong? I just said Thanks when he signed. He was signing the kids next to me, and I wasn't going to be like "I don't know you, don't sign."

[kleraudio]

Hey man, that seems like a really cool experience! I am planning on heading down to innisbrook next year when they stop down here! It would be cool to see what the pro's shots look like.

Does it cost anything to go see them practicing?

Jim

[CG031]

Hey man, that seems like a really cool experience! I am planning on heading down to innisbrook next year when they stop down here! It would be cool to see what the pro's shots look like.

Yes, it cost 50 dollars per ticket, which gives you a ticket to the Tuesday practice round AND Wednesday Pro-Am.

The thing I did not like was they MAKE you buy that package for 50 bucks. I can not go tomorrow...but still, I have to buy the ticket package that includes tomorrow. I think it's a bit unfair, but whatever. Such a rip-off.

[iacas]

I think it's a bit unfair, but whatever. Such a rip-off.

You should have found a buddy to split it with or something. Or sold the ticket to someone there - even $5 would be better than $0. Might be difficult if it's literally the same ticket, but then again, there were probably a lot of people in the parking lot when you were leaving for the day.

[DavidFehertysBike]

How was the traffic getting to the course? I thought about going, but didnt want to deal with the conjestion in Jersey City..

[CG031]

You should have found a buddy to split it with or something. Or sold the ticket to someone there - even $5 would be better than $0. Might be difficult if it's literally the same ticket, but then again, there were probably a lot of people in the parking lot when you were leaving for the day.

Well, that was actually the thing. I asked a few of my friends if they wanted the ticket (I wasn't going to even make them pay for it, I just didn't want to waste it) and they all said they couldn't make (granted, I did drop the question on whether they want it or not only about 14 hours from when they would have to go, but...)

The thing about the ticket is, the lady who sold us "this package" said they are for PRACTICE ROUNDS ONLY. BUT, the ticket says "Good any one day" Tues-Sun grounds access only. So, I'm starting to BELIEVE I can go there any one of the regular rounds too...which would be AWESOME. But, the only thing is, I don't want to go there, then have the ticket not work, and spend 50 dollars on another one...50 dollars I don't have.

How was the traffic getting to the course? I thought about going, but didnt want to deal with the conjestion in Jersey City..

No traffic at all, really. Although, it was only a Tuesday practice round, and literally NO ONE was there.

I mean, you'd think Padraig would have a decent crowd, even during the practice round, right? Well, nope. He had 2 people following him for a few holes. And that was my dad and I.

[microcrayfish]

I mean, you'd think Padraig would have a decent crowd, even during the practice round, right? Well, nope. He had 2 people following him for a few holes. And that was my dad and I.

By the looks of that photo it seems like he'd rather nobody be following him. He looks really pissed off!

[bogeyhitter25]

That's cool. Those pictures look pretty nice. That's sick how there was nobody else there. I'd hate to go and have it be congested.

[plugged]

Pictures of the golfers are great, but I think we would all have appreciated it much more if you had tken a couple of snapshots of that hottie in Pic #3.

[CG031]

Pictures of the golfers are great, but I think we would all have appreciated it much more if you had tken a couple of snapshots of that hottie in Pic #3.

I think that may have been Freddie's wife. She just hung by his golf bag and she got inside the ropes.

[flanagan]

Freddy's wife died, not aware he has remarried, has he?

[GoingfortheGreen]

Freddy's wife died, not aware he has remarried, has he?

Actually, I think he's been married twice - one death, one divorce, and now a girlfriend - at least that's what the article in Golf or Golf Digest said. The guys a "player"

[flanagan]

Both of the women he married have passed, one from cancer, one from suicide. The girl in the picture may be his current girlfriend.

[Motley01]

Both of the women he married have passed, one from cancer, one from suicide. The girl in the picture may be his current girlfriend.

geeezus I didn't know that. Poor guy feel bad for him. Always a cool character, I mean the guy walks cool!!

Great pics, looks to be a nice golf course, should be some good golf yet, even though the majors are over.