Rude Fans at PGA Tour Events

[altos]

Regarding fan behavior... the answer is fairly simple.   Put up notices that abusive behavior will get you expelled and your ticket forfeited.  The cameras are rolling... if/when the USGA develops a backbone... place people in the crowd to spot the worst offenders, the abusive ones spouting on about wives, booing, yelling derogatory comments... .  Once spotted, have the police visit with the person and escort him/her off the course while confiscating the ticket.  Make sure the cameras are rolling.   You want it blatantly displayed.   Do that several times and the problem will decline.  

[Jack Watson]

I think golf is evolving.  Ryder Cup is exciting.  Fans are getting more vocal and why not?

Ever been to a baseball game?  It would be hard for me to try to define a line between good fun and throwing a fan out.  How would it be done.  The host club is in charge of that.  Going to an event should be fun for spectators.  If an athlete is thrown off by the crowd (as long as it’s not during address or swing) he doesn’t deserve the money.  Part of being a professional is ability to focus amid distraction.  Fan involvement is fun.  It’s up to fellow fans to act to shut up a belligerent drunken fool.  As long as it’s not during the shot let it go.

[Valleygolfer]

8 hours ago, Jack Watson said:

I think golf is evolving.  Ryder Cup is exciting.  Fans are getting more vocal and why not?

Ever been to a baseball game?  It would be hard for me to try to define a line between good fun and throwing a fan out.  How would it be done.  The host club is in charge of that.  Going to an event should be fun for spectators.  If an athlete is thrown off by the crowd (as long as it’s not during address or swing) he doesn’t deserve the money.  Part of being a professional is ability to focus amid distraction.  Fan involvement is fun.  It’s up to fellow fans to act to shut up a belligerent drunken fool.  As long as it’s not during the shot let it go.

Come on. Fellow fans? That's idiotic. 

[boogielicious]

27 minutes ago, Valleygolfer said:

Come on. Fellow fans? That's idiotic. 

Agree. We pay a lot to view sporting events. It is up to the venue to police unruly fans. 

[krupa]

8 hours ago, Jack Watson said:

Ever been to a baseball game?  It would be hard for me to try to define a line between good fun and throwing a fan out. How would it be done.  The host club is in charge of that.

Lots and there is a metric shit-tonne of security there. And every stadium I've gone to, they have a phone number that you can text to report problematic/drunk people. There's no reason that the PGA Tour and/or host club can't do the same thing. 

8 hours ago, Jack Watson said:

Going to an event should be fun for spectators.

No one disagrees with that.  The question is, should we allow fan A to have all the "fun" he wants when it's ruining the "fun" for other fans? How much should the Tour and tournament hosts indulge a minority of fans? Even I know that it's bad business to lose 5 ticket-buyers because of 1 drunk idiot.

[Jack Watson]

I’ve found that often if people in a crowd are loud and funny it’s great fun.  It’s fun to join in.  But since all of us here are clearly morally superior to all other spectators at sporting events where do we draw the line?

Ive seen it where people get into altercations and they get thrown out.  Usually though if an individual spectator is cursing near children or crossing moral boundaries stage one is other fans coming down on them.  That works.  Even if you are not the one to yell quiet down jerk or whatever you can still clap when that gets done.  That’s what I have seen.  If you want to silently text security that’s your choice I guess.  Again clearly all of us here are on the moral high ground so we need to specifically define what is acceptable and what is not in terms of others behavior and contact the venues we buy tickets to prior to our arrival to ensure that no one there can spoil our..er..I guess fun?

 

[millsan1]

At MetLife Stadium, and I believe across the NFL, there is a rule.

You can heckle the team, but not a particular player.  If, let's just pretend here, you are a season ticket holder, on the 50, and pay a ton of money to go to games, and let's say, your team drafts and sticks with Mark Sanchez, and after a few years you start yelling unkind things to said Mark Sanchez, you will be warned and ultimately asked to leave.  Hypothetically.

[altos]

I would suggest that the "age of personal responsibility" is not dead.  Rather, the competency and ability of the USGA to deal with it is dead.  Not only that, the USGA wants to appeal to the 18-23 drunk crowd as it promotes the Phoenix Open.  And, yes, I don't attend that tourney nor do I watch it on TV as I consider it a "Waste".  It's proof positive that the moral low-ground demographic exists, can stupidly yell "in the hole" over and over just to hear their own voice... or dilly dilly... or rude comments about someones wife or daughter.  Those that cherish the moral low ground can have it.    Just don't expect me to support it.   

[jetsknicks1]

On 6/16/2018 at 6:40 PM, fishgolf said:

Well, you can add "dilly-dilly" and "we love you (add players name)" to the growing list of idiotic shouts this generation of fans brings to golf. Worse is that they are so eager to be heard on social media that they start on the downswing.

This. I noticed several times where fans tried to time their completely original shout as close as they could to the striking of the ball. That’s just rude and stupid. I love fans getting excited and cheering loudly for their guys but I think most of the fans who do the yelling, just want to hear themselves on TV when they go back home.

[Valleygolfer]

3 hours ago, Jack Watson said:

I’ve found that often if people in a crowd are loud and funny it’s great fun.  It’s fun to join in.  But since all of us here are clearly morally superior to all other spectators at sporting events where do we draw the line?

Ive seen it where people get into altercations and they get thrown out.  Usually though if an individual spectator is cursing near children or crossing moral boundaries stage one is other fans coming down on them.  That works.  Even if you are not the one to yell quiet down jerk or whatever you can still clap when that gets done.  That’s what I have seen.  If you want to silently text security that’s your choice I guess.  Again clearly all of us here are on the moral high ground so we need to specifically define what is acceptable and what is not in terms of others behavior and contact the venues we buy tickets to prior to our arrival to ensure that no one there can spoil our..er..I guess fun?

 

Funny to you who apparently likes belligerent behavior. The problem with one possibility "funny" person there is a host of dumbasses, yelling dumb assed remarks trying to compete. This is not "reddit." Moral my ass. There is a fan etiquette for golf that is generally followed but the mouthy or less than witty comments aren't part of it. Geezus some of the comments were so pathetic and stupid. I guess if you appreciate idiots, that's your problem... Frankly I'm not surprised. 

[Aflighter]

I thought the new York fans were horrible and shouldn't have been allowed on course.Did anyone else see the stenson putt that rolled by few feet and fan told him "your f...ked now.Stenson gave him the look.

[boogielicious]

20 hours ago, Jack Watson said:

I’ve found that often if people in a crowd are loud and funny it’s great fun.  It’s fun to join in.  But since all of us here are clearly morally superior to all other spectators at sporting events where do we draw the line?

Ive seen it where people get into altercations and they get thrown out.  Usually though if an individual spectator is cursing near children or crossing moral boundaries stage one is other fans coming down on them.  That works.  Even if you are not the one to yell quiet down jerk or whatever you can still clap when that gets done.  That’s what I have seen.  If you want to silently text security that’s your choice I guess.  Again clearly all of us here are on the moral high ground so we need to specifically define what is acceptable and what is not in terms of others behavior and contact the venues we buy tickets to prior to our arrival to ensure that no one there can spoil our..er..I guess fun?

 

Do you use a step ladder to get off your high horse?

[fishgolf]

On ‎6‎/‎19‎/‎2018 at 7:38 PM, altos said:

Regarding fan behavior... the answer is fairly simple.   Put up notices that abusive behavior will get you expelled and your ticket forfeited. 

"Quiet Please" paddles are hoisted by marshals at every hole and green; likely even some fairway shots at major events. As I mentioned earlier, over the near 10 year period of attending/marshaling at The Boeing Classic, those signs became less effective. This new fad of yelling out after each shot has escalated.  Worse, it's becoming a contest itself with the participants trying to ensure their voice is heard over the others on social media.

PGA event tickets already have that warning info on them.  Perhaps more signage would help, but seeing folks escorted off the premises does get unruly groups attention - mostly because it's one of their own.

13 hours ago, Aflighter said:

I thought the new York fans were horrible and shouldn't have been allowed on course.Did anyone else see the stenson putt that rolled by few feet and fan told him "your f...ked now.Stenson gave him the look.

Good example of the change in fan performance/etiquette and the race to the bottom.  This trend will have PGA events sounding like a UFC fight in no time.

[3jacker]

The coarsening of society is the price of freedom.

 

It sucks for us classy folk, but what're gonna do?

Edited June 21, 2018 by 3jacker

[Jeremie Boop]

13 minutes ago, 3jacker said:

The coarsening of society is the price of freedom.

 

It sucks for us classy folk, but what're gonna do?

The erosion of courtesy and decorum are the price of freedom? If that's true it's a very sad thing indeed.

[3jacker]

21 hours ago, Jeremie Boop said:

The erosion of courtesy and decorum are the price of freedom? If that's true it's a very sad thing indeed.

Yep, evidently everyone's opinion counts the same.

That includes the poors and the idiots.

Need to find a less free country to live in, would probably work out well for me.

[Blackjack Don]

Do you think the golf fan and the NASCAR fan are the same guy? (You know we're talking guys here, right?) Do we want them to be the same guy?

I hate the noise on a golf tournament. It's stupid to yell before you know where the ball is going. Hooked out of bounds: "Great shot! It's in the hole!" Tonight is Friday night, amateur night at the casino, and there will be one or two drunken idiots who absolutely have to get the attention of everyone they can. Or just an idiot who thinks he's being funny. Or an idiot who doesn't realize how stupid his behavior actually makes him look. 

It's always the same guys.

[altos]

Can't buy into the "erosion and decorum are the price of freedom" mantra.  Sounds cute.  Do you see freedom ruined at the Masters?  No.  Do you hear as many idiots? No.  Why?  Because it isn't tolerated.  How about the British Open?  No.   Why?  It isn't tolerated.  No one is making rude comments about wives and girlfriends.  No one is saying, after a ball slides by the cup, "now you're f--ked".   No one yells in the middle of swing.  Why? It's not tolerated.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch, the USGA continues to sit on it's thumbs, maintaining its course of gross ineptitude.  How about this: try throwing some people out.   What's the downside?  Work with the broadcasters to better place, or not place at all, microphones.   Move the ropes farther away.    But ohhhhh nooooo.... instead, how about we promote the 15-21 year old college drunk demographic at the Phoenix Open.  That's what the USGA did and a large part of today's problems stems from the Phoenix Open.   Because the USGA wanted to include that demographic to promote the game.  Again, the USGA climbs into the gutter.   Nice job.