unpopular opinion, but i’d be completely fine going back to no fans on the golf course

[Chip Strokes]

between the asinine shouting after tee shots, the zoo that unfolded on 18 at the PGA, and the insistence on running to and crowding around every ball that goes into the rough, i just don’t see what crowds add to a golf tournament. 

also, from a tv viewer standpoint, i’d much prefer to see more of the course.  golf courses are picturesque. they’re lush and nice to look at. that was a nice aspect of not having fans jam up the course. 

and before anyone accuses me of being a curmudgeon, i’m 33. you can still get off my lawn though. 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Ah man while I hate the shouting after shot and heckling it’s part of sports and that’s why they’re the best. After the shouting ya lose me I love the rush to the 18th to see the show.

I guess I would say I prefer watching, when I go to the Dell championship I don’t stick around long enough I wouldn’t personally want to be in the crowd.

i also agree with get off my lawn. I will be the old timer in a rocker with a bourbon in hand heckling folks as they walk past the house

[ejgaudette]

12 minutes ago, Chip Strokes said:

between the asinine shouting after tee shots, the zoo that unfolded on 18 at the PGA, and the insistence on running to and crowding around every ball that goes into the rough, i just don’t see what crowds add to a golf tournament. 

also, from a tv viewer standpoint, i’d much prefer to see more of the course.  golf courses are picturesque. they’re lush and nice to look at. that was a nice aspect of not having fans jam up the course. 

and before anyone accuses me of being a curmudgeon, i’m 33. you can still get off my lawn though. 

More I want that occasional flier into the grand stand to just keep going and see where it ends up. Sure it's like once a month but still would be fun.

More on topic though I want interest in the game and most fans are no where near as serious as us on this forum, but the way golf is played lends itself to the more audible crowd noise unfortunately. Most other sports you don't hear much except for large cheers but golf you focus audio on the player right next to fans. 

[Chip Strokes]

@Lacassem i think there’s a marked difference between a golf crowd and a baseball/football crowd - or at least there should be. a home crowd being a team’s 12th man doesn’t translate to a golf tournament. someone telling sam burns, audibly, “don’t hit it in the water” as he’s over the ball should be escorted out. 

ill for sure join you with the bourbon and the shotgun though

@ejgaudette that’s a great point about focused audio on the course. if those people didn’t get airtime when they yelled, they wouldn’t do it. 

 

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

8 minutes ago, Chip Strokes said:

@Lacassem i think there’s a marked difference between a golf crowd and a baseball/football crowd - or at least there should be. a home crowd being a team’s 12th man doesn’t translate to a golf tournament. someone telling sam burns, audibly, “don’t hit it in the water” as he’s over the ball should be escorted out. 

ill for sure join you with the bourbon and the shotgun though

@ejgaudette that’s a great point about focused audio on the course. if those people didn’t get airtime when they yelled, they wouldn’t do it. 

 

Oh I am all for kicking fans out. Golf is a respectable game and I can’t stand the “oooooo” and “get in the hole” before they even finish swinging. But I love the sea collapsing behind coming up the last holes.

I got glasses and a selection of guns whenever you’re ready my friend

[RickyBobby_PR]

While it can annoying it’s not something that I left bother me and isn’t any more annoying than some of the commentators that ruin actually watching/listening to a broadcast.

Doesnt matter where you go people are going to say and do silly stuff.

Fans on the course and how the players react to the environment makes golf interesting 

 

[bens197]

15 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

While it can annoying it’s not something that I left bother me and isn’t any more annoying than some of the commentators that ruin actually watching/listening to a broadcast.

Doesnt matter where you go people are going to say and do silly stuff.

Fans on the course and how the players react to the environment makes golf interesting 

 

Took the words out of my mouth. 

[Chip Strokes]

38 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

Fans on the course and how the players react to the environment makes golf interesting 

 

fans don’t make golf interesting any more than the other people in the theater make a movie interesting. 

but yes: stupid will always stupid. 

[DiscipleofPenick]

I agree, forget the fans. I liked being able to hear the discussion before a shot between player and caddy.

[TBT]

I did miss the crowd reaction after a great shot, especially a stuffed approach...but other than that I can do without them 

[RickyBobby_PR]

53 minutes ago, Chip Strokes said:

fans don’t make golf interesting any more than the other people in the theater make a movie interesting. 

but yes: stupid will always stupid. 

The players reactions to the fans and environment do make golf interesting. Some golfer can handle how the fans react to their shots or even the roars of others around the course. When crowds erupt from a good shot elsewhere on the course it has impacts on the other golfers. They are part of the game. 
 

Fans crowding around the finishing holes, gathering on 18 and walking behind tiger at Augusta or phil last week is a good thing IMO. It adds to the moment. 
 

Muting the tv or not watching the broadcast is always an option. Live sports are meant to be played in front of the fans. The good, bad and ugly are just part of that experience 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

Having been to quite a few tournaments I can say I like the environment. Its all good except for the turds that yell out only to get their voice heard on TV. They should be escorted out. You know the idiot yelling get in the hole while someone is teeing off on a par 5. Or the hecklers. That is just rude. If you don't like the guy go watch someone else.

I do wish that they limit the crowd size though.  The Masters is the most enjoyable. They limit the crowd size, don't allow cell phones in, and will kick you out in a heartbeat if you don't follow the rules. I wish all tournments were that way.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

8 minutes ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Having been to quite a few tournaments I can say I like the environment. Its all good except for the turds that yell out only to get their voice heard on TV. They should be escorted out. You know the idiot yelling get in the hole while someone is teeing off on a par 5. Or the hecklers. That is just rude. If you don't like the guy go watch someone else.

I do wish that they limit the crowd size though.  The Masters is the most enjoyable. They limit the crowd size, don't allow cell phones in, and will kick you out in a heartbeat if you don't follow the rules. I wish all tournments were that way.

They have created an expectation at the masters. I agree should be done everywhere 

[ParFore74x]

I definitely love seeing the actual courses and not a huge crowd if people but, I also get that the fans make it all happen. I have to agree with @Tom the Golf Nut that I feel that the people that yell stupid things or are just obnoxious should be escorted out. No reason for it to be a circus like some of the other sports out there. 

[Chip Strokes]

30 minutes ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Having been to quite a few tournaments I can say I like the environment. Its all good except for the turds that yell out only to get their voice heard on TV. They should be escorted out. You know the idiot yelling get in the hole while someone is teeing off on a par 5. Or the hecklers. That is just rude. If you don't like the guy go watch someone else.

I do wish that they limit the crowd size though.  The Masters is the most enjoyable. They limit the crowd size, don't allow cell phones in, and will kick you out in a heartbeat if you don't follow the rules. I wish all tournments were that way.

i’d feel differently if all crowds were like the fans at augusta. 

imo, it wouldn’t be hard for the PGA tour to get compliance like that. they already have security, so just put someone on each tee taking out anyone who yells baba booey or mashed potatoes. once word is out that there’s 0 tolerance, it would start to police itself. 

[Chip Strokes]

55 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

The players reactions to the fans and environment do make golf interesting. Some golfer can handle how the fans react to their shots or even the roars of others around the course. When crowds erupt from a good shot elsewhere on the course it has impacts on the other golfers. They are part of the game. 
 

Fans crowding around the finishing holes, gathering on 18 and walking behind tiger at Augusta or phil last week is a good thing IMO. It adds to the moment. 
 

Muting the tv or not watching the broadcast is always an option. Live sports are meant to be played in front of the fans. The good, bad and ugly are just part of that experience 

i guess i just don’t agree that fans on the course add anything to the sport. 

watching sports over the last year, baseball games were weird as hell with an empty silent stadium. but golf tournaments were much nicer to watch without crowds. 

as far as last week - it’s definitely a cool thing to see the throngs fill in, but to have a golfer and his caddy swallowed up in the crowd is unacceptable. 

[PMookie]

For me, there’s ONE reason we can’t remove the fans: ROARS AT AUGUSTA! 
So many players LIVE off the crowd, and although the stupid comments aggravate the mess out of me, as an athlete, there’s nothing better than folks cheering one on! Look at what the amazing fans did for Phil last week! Unreal support. Heck, fans even moved a freaking boulder for Tiger. I really hate the idiocy of some, but the good outweighs it for me!

[Chip Strokes]

3 minutes ago, PMookie said:

For me, there’s ONE reason we can’t remove the fans: ROARS AT AUGUSTA! 
So many players LIVE off the crowd, and although the stupid comments aggravate the mess out of me, as an athlete, there’s nothing better than folks cheering one on! Look at what the amazing fans did for Phil last week! Unreal support. Heck, fans even moved a freaking boulder for Tiger. I really hate the idiocy of some, but the good outweighs it for me!

i think you bring up an important distinction - the people i’m complaining about aren’t fans, they’re idiots who had a golf tournament break out in the middle of their day drinking. 

[WaffleHouseTour]

It only takes a few to ruin it for everyone...  toss em out. I listened to the PGA last weekend on XM Radio. I watched the last hour today. Absolutely horrified. Anything could have happened to the players. That wasn’t fans walking along behind, they swarmed in front of them. Makes me nervous for what the RyderCup could be like.  
 

Cut off the beer sales at what? 3 pm?

It has become obnoxious to watch.

[Nolan220]

Yeah I could do without the fans yelling after a drive or whatever stupid s*** they do in the background when the cameras on them..

[GolfSpy_APH]

I believe there is a difference to watching on TV and being there. For the players I am sure they love having fans back and it is great to have those crowds watching and them being able to entertain as well as that extra added element. For me as a fan who watches basically on TV only I couldn't care less and they are more of a distraction then anything. I prefer having none or lower numbers as at the Masters... but at the same time I watching the my group at the masters so it was just shot after shot after shot so I didn't notice a difference. 

Fans are needed for the sport and being able to have them watch in person makes a lot of money, but maybe we will see a change in how fans are handled at events moving forward... I mean at least we are not like the NBA recently....

[Headhammer]

After getting to experience the before and after of the fans I am also torn on them being back. I love the roar of the crowd when a great shot is made, it definitely adds to the viewing experience. On the other hand, drunk revelers, or just plain idiots, screaming after every shot is annoying AF and I cringe every time I hear mashed potato or get in the hole.

[GolfSpy_SHARK]

Ok didn’t catch any rounds this week. Was it everyday that was bad or specific groups? Or was it strictly Sunday last group? 
 

reason I ask the tournament I have been to I have never heard anything crazy. Usually really respectable honestly and have followed some primo groups. I remember it was tigers first round back I believe after a back injury and the following was pretty crazy. This was also day 2 (don’t believe he made the cut that week)

[Chip Strokes]

3 hours ago, Apolloshowl said:

I believe there is a difference to watching on TV and being there. For the players I am sure they love having fans back and it is great to have those crowds watching and them being able to entertain as well as that extra added element. 

i’m willing to bet that if you asked players, off record, you’d be surprised how many don’t like the fans and wouldn’t want them there. or would at least want them kept further back than they are. 

of course, they’ll never say that on record because that would make them an instant pariah 

 

[Chip Strokes]

1 minute ago, Lacassem said:

Ok didn’t catch any rounds this week. Was it everyday that was bad or specific groups? Or was it strictly Sunday last group? 
 

reason I ask the tournament I have been to I have never heard anything crazy. Usually really respectable honestly and have followed some primo groups. I remember it was tigers first round back I believe after a back injury and the following was pretty crazy. This was also day 2 (don’t believe he made the cut that week)

CBS was actually cutting the audio right after tee shots yesterday. it sounded choppy and a little weird, but extremely preferable IMO

[juspoole]

11 hours ago, DiscipleofPenick said:

I agree, forget the fans. I liked being able to hear the discussion before a shot between player and caddy.

Great point and one of the things I'll miss the most.  There is still some good commentary.  Example the Spieth wedge shot at Colonial on Thursday I think.

11 hours ago, TBT said:

I did miss the crowd reaction after a great shot, especially a stuffed approach...but other than that I can do without them 

Another great point here.  I think it can help a player gain some momentum and you can at times feel the buzz from the tournament.  

A bit conflicted myself as I also like the ability to see a bit more of the course with fewer fans. However, I think what they were able to do with the drones and things at the PGA was fantastic.

[bens197]

10 hours ago, Chip Strokes said:

i think you bring up an important distinction - the people i’m complaining about aren’t fans, they’re idiots who had a golf tournament break out in the middle of their day drinking. 

Golf bros.  They're awful.

[cnosil]

I'll add a little different perspective.    From a TV perspective fans are a meaningless thing and really don't add any value;  TV golf is probably better without fans and the idiots that yell stuff make it even worse.    I just finished my volunteer week at the LPGA Pure Silk Championship which only allowed limited fans.   The atmosphere on the course is just so different.  I didn't think to ask any of the players but I would bet they would prefer to have fans on the course cheering them on.  

[Chip Strokes]

3 minutes ago, cnosil said:

I'll add a little different perspective.    From a TV perspective fans are a meaningless thing and really don't add any value;  TV golf is probably better without fans and the idiots that yell stuff make it even worse.    I just finished my volunteer week at the LPGA Pure Silk Championship which only allowed limited fans.   The atmosphere on the course is just so different.  I didn't think to ask any of the players but I would bet they would prefer to have fans on the course cheering them on.  

do you think it’s fair to say that there are less “casual” fans at LPGA events?

maybe i’m off base, but itd be my assumption that with a smaller fan base, you end up getting more engaged and invested spectators who are there to enjoy good golf. 

[cnosil]

34 minutes ago, Chip Strokes said:

do you think it’s fair to say that there are less “casual” fans at LPGA events?

maybe i’m off base, but itd be my assumption that with a smaller fan base, you end up getting more engaged and invested spectators who are there to enjoy good golf. 

In general yes,  but you are still going to end up with the people that just see it as a place to go get some beer.