Party atmosphere at tour events

[Wanzo]

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/randall-mell/players-complain-about-rowdy-fans-hondas-17th/

It seems like some tour players are ok with the idea of having the 16th at Scottsdale be what it is, but are scared it might start to leak over to other events....

“I said to myself, this isn’t Scottsdale,” Horschel told GolfChannel.com. “This is ridiculous.”

“Imagine if you’re trying to write an article and somebody’s shouting things that aren’t very nice in your ears?” Garcia told GolfChannel.com in the locker room after the final round. “How would that make you feel?.....not quite the same in my opinion, but I hear his point.

I don't think there is an easy answer.  If I had to pick, I'd vote option three.  But I also think that players need to be careful not to sound ungrateful to fans.

 

[DaveP043]

Golf is one of the few remaining sports where both the players and the fans are expected to remain reasonably civil most of the time.  If you want to get drunk and heckle golfers, you should do it where you play.  See how well that goes over at your local club or muni, see how long it goes on before you get escorted from the property.  Or try going to a Broadway musical, and heckle the actors.  I (obviously) have very limited patience for drunken morons.

[woodzie264]

I didn't vote because I'm somewhere in the middle. 

I have no problem with fans getting excited and being a little rowdy AFTER the shot has been hit. But I agree that it can't be continuous mayhem. 

Maybe 1-2 holes per venue set up like Scottsdale's 16th would be a great compromise?

[krupa]

I voted to keep it at Scottsdale but I really don't think it's reasonable for any official Tour event.   If you want to get shitfaced and scream, go to a football game.

[MuniGrit]

Is this the newest struggling tour player's excuse for poor play or not living up to expectations?

[Gator Hazard]

50 minutes ago, krupa said:

I voted to keep it at Scottsdale but I really don't think it's reasonable for any official Tour event.   If you want to get shitfaced and scream, go to a football game.

Actually no, they should stay home or go to a bar where it is expected patrons are 21. I hate going to sporting events and sitting near loudmouth foul talking drunken assholes when I have my kids with me. I shouldn't have to put up with that at a sporting event, be it basketball, football, baseball, or other. 

Leave it where it is, one hole on a tourney. 

[boogielicious]

2 hours ago, Wanzo said:

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/randall-mell/players-complain-about-rowdy-fans-hondas-17th/

It seems like some tour players are ok with the idea of having the 16th at Scottsdale be what it is, but are scared it might start to leak over to other events....

“I said to myself, this isn’t Scottsdale,” Horschel told GolfChannel.com. “This is ridiculous.”

“Imagine if you’re trying to write an article and somebody’s shouting things that aren’t very nice in your ears?” Garcia told GolfChannel.com in the locker room after the final round. “How would that make you feel?.....not quite the same in my opinion, but I hear his point.

I don't think there is an easy answer.  If I had to pick, I'd vote option three.  But I also think that players need to be careful not to sound ungrateful to fans.

 

Thanks for posting. Excellent question. I went for 3. I think the Tour can determine the environment for each tournament. Placing signs, instructing the crowd, etc. can go a long way. I like 16 and Scottsdale, but really want to keep it there.

[Wanzo]

2 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

Golf is one of the few remaining sports where both the players and the fans are expected to remain reasonably civil most of the time

Agree.  The challenge is that when you introduce the party atmosphere, or shades of it,  you can bring in many more fringe fans to the event.

 

2 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

 If you want to get drunk and heckle golfers, you should do it where you play

hahaha

 

[iacas]

I picked the third option. Fine at that one hole, keep it more sane at the others.

[rehmwa]

11 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

Thanks for posting. Excellent question. I went for 3. I think the Tour can determine the environment for each tournament. Placing signs, instructing the crowd, etc. can go a long way. I like 16 and Scottsdale, but really want to keep it there.

That's the closest to my opinion, but I don't care if it's solely the WM 16th or more.  Personally? I like the idea of every tourney having a "fan friendly" single hole like WM - 17 more traditional

But, I'm a big fan of not trying to choose things for others.  So I'd have a fourth choice - each event and the tour should be able to decide the atmosphere of their event.  Fan attendance, and player participation will determine if they made the right choice.

I'd think the ongoing rumble at 16 at WM would be preferable to hearing some jerk break the civilized silence with an inane scream after every shot at a more self-stylized 'sophisticated' tourney.

[Wanzo]

27 minutes ago, Gator Hazard said:

Actually no, they should stay home or go to a bar where it is expected patrons are 21. I hate going to sporting events and sitting near loudmouth foul talking drunken assholes when I have my kids with me. I shouldn't have to put up with that at a sporting event, be it basketball, football, baseball, or other.

well, that ship has sailed.  At least some venues have "family friendly" seating options.  But keeping the "party" isolated to either one event or a certain hole as much as possible makes some sense.

[Kalnoky]

32 minutes ago, Gator Hazard said:

I hate going to sporting events and sitting near loudmouth foul talking drunken assholes when I have my kids with me. I shouldn't have to put up with that at a sporting event, be it basketball, football, baseball, or other. 

I also voted for option #3.

That was a party before it was ever a famous golf tournament. I vividly recall  watching drunken girls try to navigate the grass in high heels. I don't think half the people there knew anything about golf or where paying any attention to the game. But they drew it up this way from the beginning: IMHO it's a mistake if other more venerable tournaments should aspire to become parties.

I agree with @Gator Hazard & I don't go to my alma mater's football games anymore for this reason. I'm not above having a drink in a bar, but I don't like being surrounded by drunken vulgar trash. 

Edited March 1, 2017 by Kalnoky

[Club Rat]

4 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

If you want to get drunk and heckle golfers, you should do it where you play.

Just having fun with your comment Dave. Some places do.

Years ago when playing in Mens Game at Breckenridge, the outside deck overlooked the 18th hole.
Guys who had completed their round would cheer and jeer those who hit good and bad shots.
A ball which fell short of the green either meant a bunker or even the pond.
A good shot was applauded with even occasional heckling from onlookers.

Hence the tradition of approaching "the gallery from hell"

It was all in good fun, no extreme cursing or abusive comments were ever made.

[Patch]

I voted for #1 only because it was, for me, the best option of the three. I would have no problem with more tournaments having their own "16th hole".

These pro golfers are entertainers because they depend on others who are entertained by watching them. The idea that this "is their job, their work place" that they should not be bothered by those who support them, is pretty selfish on their part. 

[krupa]

8 minutes ago, Patch said:

These pro golfers are entertainers because they depend on others who are entertained by watching them.  The idea that this "is their job, their work place" that they should not be bothered by those who support them, is pretty selfish on their part. 

But the problem is that these people aren't watching them; they're taunting, heckling, insulting, etc.  Reportedly, someone yelled at Garcia that they hoped his marriage failed.  WTF is up with that?  It's one thing to cheer and boo as the players come by but the reason this is an issue is that more than one asshole has taken it too far.

[bmartin461]

2 minutes ago, krupa said:

But the problem is that these people aren't watching them; they're taunting, heckling, insulting, etc.  Reportedly, someone yelled at Garcia that they hoped his marriage failed.  WTF is up with that?  It's one thing to cheer and boo as the players come by but the reason this is an issue is that more than one asshole has taken it too far.

I agree with this, I heard a podcast on this very same topic where they were discussing if this would be good for golf to recreate Scottsdale at other tournaments.   They were discussing if the noise is/would be an issue and the response was as long as the noise is consistent (think everyone clapping, everyone talking, etc.) the players would not be bothered.  What bothers them is a single camera click or single movement when everything else is still and quiet.  

So having a more "football like" fan experience would not be a bad thing, but having people yell directly at the players would be, IMO.

 

[Golfingdad]

I voted #3 like most others.  I think it's starting to get close to jumping the shark, though, as the novelty (for me, at least) has worn off.  That said ...

4 hours ago, MuniGrit said:

Is this the newest struggling tour player's excuse for poor play or not living up to expectations?

This is funny, though.  I'm not a big Horschel fan and it sounds like he's whining again.  He was also whining the other day about not wanting to go to Mexico to play in the WGC event this week.  Funny thing is, though, that he took care of that problem by sucking and not qualifying.

[DaveP043]

1 hour ago, Club Rat said:

Just having fun with your comment Dave. Some places do.

Years ago when playing in Mens Game at Breckenridge, the outside deck overlooked the 18th hole.
Guys who had completed their round would cheer and jeer those who hit good and bad shots.
A ball which fell short of the green either meant a bunker or even the pond.
A good shot was applauded with even occasional heckling from onlookers.

Hence the tradition of approaching "the gallery from hell"

It was all in good fun, no extreme cursing or abusive comments were ever made.

John, you know you're not going to upset me by poking fun at my posting.  I've certainly been at club events where there's a fair share of drunken heckling, and enjoyed myself immensely.  The thing is, even with the jeers and the jeckling, there's always a measure of respect for the players.  The problems begin when you get 10,000 drunks together, with an atmosphere that tells them that anything and everything goes.  That's where you get this guy...

28 minutes ago, krupa said:

 Reportedly, someone yelled at Garcia that they hoped his marriage failed.  WTF is up with that?  It's one thing to cheer and boo as the players come by but the reason this is an issue is that more than one asshole has taken it too far.

And do you remember this drunk, who claimed he got inside Poulter's head and made him miss the cut?

I love loud cheers, shows of support,  but I hate disrespect towards the players, loud sudden noises during a swing, attempts by the fans to negatively influence a player.   I can live with one "circus atmosphere" hole per year, but that's enough for me.