Ryder Cup Spoiler

PA-PLAYA · 2016-09-30T05:16:26+00:00

Well... it's on like donkey kong. Less than 7 hours to go before the matches officially get underway. Morning Foursomes (all times local, one our behind ES...

PA-PLAYA

Natpharm

I was just really taken aback by the inaction of the PGA more than anything. The heckling and confrontational type situations are to be expected maybe once or twice per round, which would seem about average. But this stuff just went on and on before the PGA even thought about addressing it. In fact - not sure they even would've had the press not brought it up in the morning papers.

I remember the hostility back in '99 at Brookline, Payne was playing Monty that Sunday in the singles and the fans were just absolutely ruthless with the heckling. It was in fact so bad that Payne felt obligated on numerous occasions to point out the troublemakers and have them removed from the course. Payne was asked why he conceded Monty's putt from well outside gimmee range at the last hole to halve the match, and Payne replied, "with the way Monty was treated today, with us already having won the event - it was the only decent thing to do."

Sadly, the heckling and profanity being spewed last week was 1000x worse. And again - it was that way because the PGA did absolutely nothing about it until the final day, and by then it's much too late.

This is what happens when the powers-that-be sellout the game. Too many people there last week, entirely too many people. But... it's revenue. Too much beer being sold, beer tents opening as soon as the gates open. It's revenue. Too many people being prodded into following/playing golf who quite frankly shouldn't be, with the PGA going completely overboard with trying to make the sport more inclusive than exclusive (without also explaining the importance of etiquette, integrity and honor). It's all about revenue.

This is what happens when greed takes over.

dan

Take a deep breath.

letthebigdogshunt

It is not the number of people it is the number of people that are drunk and acting with no reserve. My first thought was how much fuel did Willet's brother and his diatribe against American fans add to this Ryder Cup? This was the worst crowd at any golf tournament I have ever been to or watched on TV. My second thought was what if the USA team members had tried to stop the ugly behavior would that have had any impact on the foul mouthed drunks, Has the behavior at the TPC Scottsdale 16th hole help create this type of drunk fan.

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letthebigdogshunt

I'm not personally fond of the growing NFL type atmosphere, but I also recognize the importance behind popularizing a couple events each year simply out of the good that comes with strongly supporting good causes and various charities. I'm not a huge fan of the Phoenix Open or the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, but I also understand those two events generate a lot of interest and support for the local charities, and I'm fine with that. It's a worthy compromise in those two instances. But is it the type of rowdy atmosphere that I believe should be mimicked every other week on tour? No, I don't think it should.

But here's the way I look at it... not dissimilar from the thousands of public courses that are extremely hesitant to enforce acceptable pace-of-play standards, these organizations (be it the PGA or the PGA Tour) are likewise hesitant to confront people, for the same underlying reason. They too want to avoid losing revenue, nor do they want a reputation of being not fan-friendly.

The first tour event I ever attended back in 2000 - cellphones were banned, you weren't permitted to have one on the tournament grounds. Then they gradually relaxed the policy because they felt it was negatively impacting attendance and subsequently established designated cellphone use areas where spectators could call and check in on their kids, or tend to work-related matters. Now, several years later, there are no designated areas at most tournaments. And although they still make a passive attempt to make sure no one is taking pictures or recording videos while the tournament is going on - it is clearly not being strictly enforced.

Yet as disruptive as a cellphone ringing or the sound of a mobile phone camera shutter going off in a player's backswing - having people yell and scream as a player is addressing the ball and trying to concentrate over his shot really is just as irritating.

The rules have been relaxed in an effort to have the sport more recognizing of the times we live and the modern-day luxuries we didn't have two decades ago, things that today we perceive as necessities and simply can't live without. Including cellphones. Including alcohol.

And unfortunately, including an individual's desire to ignore the rules and attempt to gain whatever form of attention he feels entitled, even if it risks being removed from the event and facing legal charges.

ronsc1985

All you guys keep blaming the poor behavior on drunks. How do you know this is true?. I suspect most were not drunk. Inconsiderate A-holes don't require alcohol to be A-holes. Check out the posts on a lot of social media.

It would be illustrative to know the age of those thrown out. I'd be surprised if they weren't from the age group that passed through the deteriorating US educational system in the last 20-30 or so years.

Social promotion, your feelings are what matters, everybody gets a trophy and other such psycho babble crap can have long term detrimental effects on those exposed.

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ronsc1985

Although what you say indeed has an element of truth, I would still be willing to bet that an overwhelming majority of the assholes who were causing problems last week had consumed entirely too much alcohol. I mean - I get the point that the absence of alcohol alone doesn't not make someone a disruptive asshole, but the odds naturally increase per the rate of consumption.

ronsc1985

Drunk and disorderly is a crime in Minnesota as it is in most places. Shouting obscenities in a public place is also unlawful conduct. Not prosecuting this kind of behavior just encourages more of the same.

The idea that doing this would result in less spectators is not based on any substantiated fact. It's like the golf course problem. You may lose a few A-holes but you gain others when your course doesn't have the reputation of slow play all day every day.

In Phoenix the loud /rowdy behavior is limited to one hole and everyone knows what to expect. Actually what happens is bad shots get booed, good shots get cheered. It's not the customary golf course response but it is a long cry from what went on during the Ryder Cup.

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ronsc1985

Having worked in the golf industry at the club level, I can assure you there is indeed a correlation between non-enforcement of slow play and not wanting to turn customers away, despite the fact that this mindset actually does have a reverse affect. Not to mention - a lot of places here locally have all but done away with pace-of-play rangers, even during the peak weekend times, to cut down on staffing overhead.

But the issue with not wanting to confront people, be it at these tournaments policing the hecklers and bad actors, or the course staff not wanting to confront groups about slow play, happens as we can clearly see. That being so, why else in both of those examples would they choose to overlook it, if not related in some way, shape or form to revenue? They know it's going on, they're hearing about it, but hesitant to do anything about it.

Just posing the question, while also enjoying the differing viewpoint offered.

ronsc1985

On public courses rangers/marshals are a usually waste of money. The players just ignore them. The only thing they may be useful for is during outings with the inexperienced players these events tend to draw.

At private clubs it's even worse if the ranger is club employee. The members then bitch about him/her and the club management takes the members side 99.99% of the time.

The only effective private club ranger I ever saw was at a club I belonged to. One of the board members broke his leg so he volunteered to be a ranger for something to do. He didn't have to take any crap from the slow members so he was effective and his directions were backed up by the rest of the BOD.

Fear of losing customers/members may be why club managements don't enforce rules but I think this fear is misplaced. Conventional wisdom is often wrong and this is one of those cases.

The other reason is that the people hired to do the enforcement just don't want the hassle of having to listen to the complaints and excuses. Very few people really want the job since it usually pays little if anything and the only real benefit is maybe some free golf.

The public course down the road from me eliminated all their marshals last year with no effect one way or the other on pace of play. A few people I know who have managed courses in the area had the same experience.

PA-PLAYA

To be very honest, the primary reason I have maintained a private club membership the past several years is more about pace of play than course conditions, although I must admit that the improved course conditions are definitely a bonus.

We've not had rangers during the last two private clubs where I've been a member... the members police themselves, and with exception to maybe club stroke-play tournaments (where it is somewhat expected to take longer) we've not had any issues finishing in 4 hours or less. So for four guys, playing in 4 hours or less, that is acceptable in my view, especially considering that the standard pace locally at most public courses often exceed 5 hours during the weekend prime times.

I spend maybe a couple thousand more dollars per year, on average, than I would at an upscale public facility nearby. But I consider it a justifiable expense, especially considering that I really don't have any other expensive hobbies that I partake of outside of golf. I think my cost-per-round average is roughly $45... but then again, I opt for the all-inclusive membership with carts included in the annual dues.

Some would say that maybe I need to get a life. 😉

Dropking

Hi Pa-Playa I have enjoyed your balanced comments. Us neutral South Africans are also concerned at the unsporting behaviour of the American public. A lot of posts refer to the small minority but when Rory hit his shot into the water on the 16th the roar from the crowds reached new levels and the commentators were not impressed.

My wife, who does not play or follow golf, watched a few holes with me and asked why the Americans were so rude. She then stopped watching.

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