Opinion & Analysis
10 things not to do at a PGA Tour event
This story was selected as one of the 15 best GolfWRX stories of 2015!
Heading to a PGA Tour event in the upcoming season? Don’t do this stuff.
Wear your golf shoes
“Hello, sir. Are you participating in the tournament today?” If the answer to that question is no, you have NO business wearing your golf shoes at a PGA Tour event.
Period.
Do the spike-wearers also lace up their cleats when they head to football and baseball games?
And whatever material advantage one gains in terms of on-course traction is surely outweighed by the ridiculousness quotient.
Note: Caddies don’t wear golf shoes and they walk the course with 50-plus pound bags strapped to their back. Thus, you don’t need to either.
Be the beer-and-cigar guy
Do you know this guy/these guys (they usually travel in packs)? Booming alcohol voice, douchily attired, clutching three-plus empty plastic beer cups in one hand and a (lit or unlit) cigar in the other?
And whether the product of beer-induced tunnel vision, total lack of concern, or general ignorance, beer-and-cigar guy (and his beer-and-cigar buddies) is always spouting off with little regard for those around him.
He’ll be happy to add a few colorful words to your child’s vocabulary and will offer unrestrained praise for the assets of the fairer sex he spots in the gallery.
Yell “Baba Booey,” or “mashed potatoes,” or “get in the hole”
You’d like to think that even repeat “Baba Booey-ers” are annoyed when they hear the signature exclamation of golf fan idiocy bellowed as a Tour pro tees off.
If you find yourself compelled to belt out the above or any other ridiculous exclamation for that most-rewarding knowledge that you “got on television,” please don’t.
It’s a race to the bottom with these folks, and the upcoming season will bring with it new moronic vocalization.
Great.
Trample or otherwise fight children for autographs
Look, I understand adults have the right to ask pros for autographs. Maybe you have a sports memorabilia business, want to make a quick buck on eBay, or are merely looking proudly display a signed Phil Mickelson 8-by-10 in your office.
All of that is fine. Still, children must have first priority in the hunter for Tour pros’ Sharpie scribbles.
Why?
Do you not remember being a kid? Do you not remember the deities that professional athletes were to you? Do you not remember the overwhelming sentimental value of an autograph?
Autographs are most important to children and children’s enjoyment of golf is most important to the future of the game.
Don’t be one of those guys trampling children in an effort to get Adam Scott’s autograph.
Offer on-course commentary
Have you seen this guy (and it’s usually a guy)? He posts up at a hole and shares his expansive knowledge of the game of golf and the players on the PGA Tour with anyone who will listen. As he’s often attending the tournament alone, he has no choice but to scatter his pearls of wisdom before strangers.
In addition providing color commentary (“Dufner’s wife is hot”…”He has great hands. Shouldn’t have any trouble with this pitch”), he’ll share his green reads with anyone in his proximity.
He’s honed the reads, of course, from camping out at the same green all day.
Act like an idiot around Tiger Woods/ say stupid things when players walk by
The two behaviors above go hand in hand. It’s a gross oversimplification to say golf fan behavior has gotten worse in the near two decades Tiger Woods has been on tour. Still, there is an element of truth in that statement. Certainly, there are fans who pay the price of admission purely to see El Tigre who wouldn’t otherwise be in the gallery of a PGA Tour event.
And unlike most other sports, golfers walk right in front of fans. Thus, anyone in the gallery can say basically anything to any player’s face. For those who enjoy heckling from the cheap seats, the opportunity is too much to pass up and they end up saying something dumb to a player. Multiply this by at least a power of 10 where Tiger Woods is concerned.
Inappropriately bust out your camera phone
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Whatever the cell phone policy of the event you’re attending is, can you please adhere to it?
And don’t try to snap a photo of Bubba Watson for Instagram or record his swing to post to YouTube.
Just don’t.
Try to sneak by when marshals have quiet signs raised
Don’t you love these people? If you’ve been to a PGA Tour event you’ve seen them: When the marshal in your immediate vicinity raises his/her hands because a player is about to hit, everyone stops dead in their tracks.
Everyone, that is, except the slithering or obvious doofus to whom the rules apparently do not apply.
Don’t be a marshal-disobeyer.
Show up without a clue
Here’s something you shouldn’t do mostly for your own sake, not because it aggravates others, but rather because it compromised your experience at a PGA Tour event: Don’t show up without a clue.
Check the list of prohibited items. If you bring a bag, make sure it’s clear. Have some idea of the course layout. Figure out if you want to follow groups (Who? When? Where?), or if you want to hang out at a hole and watch players come through.
An ounce of preparation will save you a lot of wasted time wandering around like an idiot, and it’ll increase your enjoyment of the event substantially.
Interrupt a trophy presentation and make bird calls
Finally, don’t do this…
Opinion & Analysis
Brandel Chamblee PGA Championship Q&A: Rose’s huge McLaren risk, distracted LIV pros and why Aronimink suits the bombers
PGA Championship week is here, and Brandel Chamblee did not hold back in our latest discussion ahead of the season’s second major.
In our 2026 PGA Championship Q&A, golf’s leading analyst made the case that PIF pulling LIV’s funding has left its players competing in a state of confusion, called Justin Rose’s mid-season equipment switch a huge risk at 45, and explained why Aronimink will be a bombers’ delight this week.
Check out the full Q&A below.
Gianni: With the PIF confirming that they’re pulling funding from LIV at the end of the season, what impact do you expect that to have on the LIV players competing at the PGA Championship?
Brandel: I would imagine that they have all been thrown into a state of confusion, and will be distracted, not knowing where they are going to play next year and not knowing exactly their road back to either the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour. Or in Rahm’s case, being tied to a sinking ship for the next few years, likely playing for pennies on the dollar in events that no one cares about or watches.
I doubt this would put him in the best frame of mind to compete at his highest level. Keeping in mind, however, that majors are the only time that LIV disciples get to play in events that matter, so never disregard the motivation they have to prove to the world they are still relevant.
Gianni: Justin Rose switched to McLaren Golf equipment mid-season while playing some of the best golf of his career. What do you make of the change?
Brandel: I don’t really know what to make of Rose switching equipment. It seems a huge risk on his part, even though it is likely, in my opinion, that the clubs he’s playing are similar, if not the exact grinds, to what he was playing previously, with a McLaren stamp on them.
Having said that, at best, it is a distraction when he seemed to be as dialed in with his game as any 45-year-old could be and trending in the majors to perhaps do something that would definitely put him in the Hall of Fame. At worst, given the possibility that these clubs aren’t just duplicates of his old set stamped with McLaren on them, he’s made an equipment change that would take time, and 45-year-old athletes don’t have the time to do such things.
Gianni: Aronimink has only hosted a handful of professional events since it hosted the 1962 PGA Championship. What kind of test does it present, and does a course with less recent major championship history tend to level the playing field?
Brandel: Even though Aronimink has only hosted a handful of meaningful professional events, it has been fairly discerning in who can win there. When Keegan Bradley won the BMW Championship on the Donald Ross masterpiece in 2018, he was the 2nd best iron player on tour coming into that week. When Nick Watney won the AT&T at Aronimink in 2011, he was 2nd in strokes gained total coming into the week.
In 2020, Aronimink hosted the KPMG Championship, and Sei Young Kim won. On the LPGA that year, she was first in greens in regulation, putts per green in regulation, and scoring average on the way to being the LPGA player of the year. And then there is the 1962 PGA Championship won by Gary Player, who eventually became just one of a few players to win the career grand slam on the way to winning 9 majors. It is a formidable test, and if it’s not softened by rain, it will bring out the best in the upper echelons of the game.
Gianni: Is there a specific hole at Aronimink that you think will do the most to decide the winner?
Brandel: The hardest hole at Aronimink in each of the three tour events that have been played there since 2010 has been the long par-3 8th hole, with the par-4 10th being the second hardest, so most of the carnage will happen around the turn, but with the par-5 16th offering opportunities for bold plays and the tough closing holes at 17 and 18, the finish is likely to be frenetic.
Gianni: The PGA Championship has always sat in the shadow of the other majors. What does the ideal PGA Championship look like in your eyes, and what would it take for it to carve out its own identity?
Brandel: The PGA Championship, to whatever degree it suffers from the comparison to the other three majors, is still counted just as much when adding them up at the end of one’s career. Almost 1/3 of Nicklaus’ major wins were the five PGA Championships he won. Walter Hagen won 11 majors, five of which were PGA Championships.
Tiger Woods twice in his career won back-to-back PGA Championships, and those four majors count just as much as the other 11 he won. The PGA may not have the prestige of the other three, but it carries the same weight. Having said that, I preferred the identity that it had as the last major of the year.
Gianni: You nailed your Masters picks. Rory won, Scottie finished solo second, and Morikawa surged to a tie for seventh. Who are your top 3 picks for the PGA Championship and why?
Brandel: I am not a huge fan of majors played on golf courses that have been shorn of most of the trees, although I understand some of the agronomic reasons for doing so and of course the ease with which it allows members to play after errant drives. However, at the highest level, it all but eliminates any strategy off the tee and turns professional golf into an even bigger slugfest. That means that it will likely be a bomber’s delight this week, but fortunately, Scottie Scheffler is long enough to play that game and straight enough to play it better than anyone else.
The major championships give us very few surprises anymore, going back to the beginning of 2012, so the last 57 majors played, the average world rank of the winners has been better than 15th in the world. So look at the highest ranked and longest drivers who are on form coming into the PGA Championship who also have great short games as the surrounds at Aronimink are very challenging. That’s Scottie Scheffler by a mile and then McIlroy and Cameron Young with a far bigger nod towards DeChambeau than I gave him at the Masters.
In this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, we dive into one of the most interesting flatstick releases of the year with a full review of the new TaylorMade SYSTM 2 putters. After spending time on the greens, I break down what makes this design stand out, where it performs, and why it has me completely torn between loving it and fighting it. If you are into feel, alignment, and consistency, this is one you will want to hear about.
We also take a look at some of the putters in play on the PGA Tour last week. From familiar favorites to a few surprising setups, there is always something to learn from what the best players in the world are rolling with under pressure.
To wrap things up, I walk through the process of building a set of JP Golf Prime irons paired with Baddazz Gold Series shafts. From component selection to performance goals, this is a deep dive into what goes into creating a unique custom set and why this combo has been so intriguing.
This year my 50th birthday. Gosh, where has the time gone?
As a teenager in rural Missouri, some of my junior high and high school years felt interminable. Graduation seemed light years away. But the older I get, the faster life seems to fly by.
I’m also increasingly aware of my mortality. My dad died recently. Earlier this year, a friend and fellow PGA of America professional and I were texting about our next catch-up. The next message I received was news of his unexpected passing at 48. Shortly after, a woman I dated in college succumbed to cancer at 51.
Certainly, one can share perspective at any age. Seniors help freshmen, veterans guide rookies. But reaching this milestone feels like as good a time as any to do one of those “what would I tell my younger self?” articles.
I’ve had a uniquely varied career in golf. I started as a 27-year-old, average-length-hitting, 14-handicap computer engineer and somehow managed to turn pro before running out of money, constantly bootstrapping my way forward. I’ve won qualifiers and set venue records in the World Long Drive Championships, finished fifth at the Speedgolf World Championships, coached all skill levels as a PGA of America professional, built industry-leading swing speed training programs for Swing Man Golf, helped advance the single-length iron market with Sterling Irons®, caddied on the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, and played about 300 courses across 32 countries.
It’s been a ride, and I’ve gone both deep and wide.
So while I can consult and advise from a lot of angles, let me keep it to a few things I’d tell the average golfer who wants to improve.
1. Think About What You Want
Everyone has their own reason for picking up a golf club.
Oddly, as a professional athlete, I’m not internally driven by competition. That can be challenging, as the industry currently prioritizes and incentivizes competition over the love of the game.
For me, I love walking and being outdoors. Nature helps balance my energy. I prefer courses that are integrated into the natural beauty of their surroundings. I’m comfortable practicing alone. I’m a deep thinker, and I genuinely enjoy investigating the game, using data and intuition to unearth unique, often innovative insights. I’m fortunate to be strong and athletic, so I appreciate the chance to engage with my abilities. Traveling feels adventurous. I could go on.
You don’t have to overthink it like I do. For you, it might be as simple as hitting balls to escape work, hanging out with friends, and playing loosely with the rules and the score.
The point is to give yourself permission to play for your own reasons, and let that be enough.
But if improvement is your goal, thinking about your destination—and when you want to get there—is important, because it dictates the steps you need to take. When I set out to go from a 14-handicap to the PGA TOUR as quickly as possible, the steps I needed were very different from those of a working golfer trying to break 90 in six months. That’s also different from someone who just wants a few peaceful hours outside each week, away from work or family.
None of these goals are better than the others, but each requires a different plan that you can work backward from.
2. There Are Lots of Things That Can Work
One of the challenges of golf is that, although there are rules for playing, there aren’t clear, industry-wide standards for how to best play the game. There’s a lot of gray area.
You might hear a top coach or trainer insist that a certain move is the best way to swing or train. Then you dig a bit deeper and, much to your confusion and frustration, another respected coach or trainer says something completely different. I don’t think anyone is trying to confuse you—at least I hope not. It’s just where the industry is right now.
You have to be careful with advice from tournament pros, too. They might be great at scoring, but they’re also human and sometimes just as susceptible as amateurs to believing things that don’t really move the needle. Tour players might describe what they feel, but that’s not always what they’re actually doing when assessed with technology.
I recently ran a test on my YouTube channel (which connects to my GolfWRX article “How to use your hands in the golf swing for power and accuracy”), and, interestingly, two of the most commonly taught hand actions produced the worst results in the test.
Coaches can certainly help. If you find someone you connect with to help navigate, that’s great. But there are many ways to get the ball in the hole. In the current landscape, you may need to seek multiple opinions, think critically, and use your own intuition to discern what seems true and whose advice resonates with you.
I’d recommend seeking someone who is open-minded and always learning, because things constantly change. Absolutes like “correct” or “proper” should raise a red flag. AI can be useful, but it tends to confidently repeat popular advice, so proceed with caution.
3. Get Custom Fit
If you’re serious about becoming a better player, getting custom fit is hugely important. There’s no sense fighting your equipment if you don’t have to. Most better players get fit these days and, if they don’t, they’re usually skilled enough to work around clubs that aren’t ideal.
If you plan to play for a long time, it’s worth spending a little more upfront to get something that truly fits you and your game, rather than continually buying and discarding equipment.
Equipment rules haven’t really changed significantly since the early 2000s. To stay in business, manufacturers keep pushing those limits. If you pull a bunch of clubs and balls off the rack and test them, you’ll find differences. I’ve tested two new drivers and seen a 30-yard total distance gap. Usually, the issue isn’t bad equipment; it’s that the combination of components simply isn’t the best fit.
It’s like wearing a new pair of floppy clown shoes. Sure, they’re shoes—but you won’t sprint your best in them compared to track shoes that fit perfectly.
Be wary of what’s called custom fitting, too. Sometimes the term is used as a marketing strategy rather than an actual fitting. In some retail settings, fitters may be incentivized to steer you toward higher-priced components. That doesn’t automatically mean it’s not the best fit, but you should be aware of potential biases.
I learned a version of this lesson outside of golf. Years ago, I bought a tennis racquet at a big box store from a seemingly knowledgeable employee who thought it would suit me best. The racquet gave me tennis elbow, and I spent months recovering with rest and acupuncture. The next season, I invested more time and money to find what actually fit me, and I walked away with something amazing that I still play with years later.
So if you’re going to get fit, be smart about it.
Find someone you believe has deep knowledge—possibly with certifications, but not necessarily. Make sure there’s a wide inventory across many brands. Check recent reviews for the individual fitter if possible. Make sure you trust that the fitter has your best interests at heart. If they’re wearing a hat or shirt with a specific brand’s logo, proceed with caution. Unless you specifically want a certain brand or look, be wary of upsells, especially if two options perform nearly the same.
Also, while golf is called a sport of integrity, there’s a thread of manipulation in the industry. I once drafted an equipment article for an industry magazine, structured just like one of their previous popular stories, with matching word count and great photos. The assistant editor loved it; it was useful to readers and required little work on his part. But the editor-in-chief nixed the story. When I asked why, I was told it was because I wasn’t an advertiser. It turned out the article I’d modeled mine after was a paid ad cleverly disguised as editorial content.
I really dislike games, clickbait, and fear-based manipulation. I hope this changes, but golfers deserve to know it exists.
4. Distance and Strategy Matter
There’s a real relationship between how far you hit the ball and your scoring average, even at the PGA TOUR level.
I experienced this early in my pro career. I started as a power hitter, swinging in the high 120s and breaking 200 mph ball speed with a stock driver.
Back then, some instructors advised swinging at 80%, so I tried slowing down for more accuracy. That worked fine on shorter, tighter courses. But on longer setups, I was coming into greens with too much club, and par 5s stopped being
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Uncle chop chop
Oct 11, 2016 at 6:33 am
I spotted a few idiots trying to slip and slide around the 2010 Ryder cup at Celtic Manor in standard trainers/sneakers. If you thought us golf shoe wearers looked stupid you should have seen them, it was like watching Bambie on ice. Half of them fell flat on there backs and were covered in mud, esepcially around the riased viewing areas on the 16th and 17th. I’ll take some grief for wearing my golf shoes, you can give me as much as you want when I’m picking you up of the floor on a wet Welsh Monday morning
beefrank
Jun 10, 2015 at 12:25 pm
The fact that there is armed security at these events is an indication a lot has changed in the last two decades. About the only pro sports events a family can attend these days with relative safety and civility is minor league baseball.
BloughMee
Apr 12, 2015 at 7:02 pm
Pro golf is pretty much for white Ivy-League frat-boy stuffed-shirt ultra-douchebags anyway, so does it surprise anyone that the idiots attending one of these events would act like that?
chuck
Jun 6, 2015 at 3:16 pm
I still remember when going to play golf and even go to pro events were so much better than now a days. Like num. 6 talks about how people are 10 x’s worst when tigers around. Before he played golf fans were not complete morons and actually playing the game was so much better. You have all these people who don’t need to be on a golf course out there. They place their hands around their hat bills reading puts like they are him. Hopefully now that he has started to sucks so bad more idiots will quit playing and attending events.
Dave
Sep 18, 2016 at 9:19 am
Your comment shows you really know nothing about golf
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Connor
Jan 27, 2015 at 2:43 am
Other than Beau Hossler contending, the bird call was the best thing about the US Open that year.
JM
Jan 25, 2015 at 10:07 pm
Above all, the most important thing is to remember that golf is the “gentleman’s” game, whether playing or spectating. With the game evolving, there is a fine line with golf remaining true to it’s gentleman’s code and staying relevant with younger crowd, who is the future of the game. When at an event, it’s not a crime to have a few beers or a cigar, it’s just the manner in which it’s done. I don’t promote having a cigar in a crowd following Tiger, Rickey, Rory, etc., where one would be blowing smoke in the face many people, especially children. But, there is nothing wrong with enjoying a cigar in areas where there aren’t large crowds. I’d much rather stand in a crowd of respectful cigar smokers/beer drinkers, than next to a person screaming all kind of nonsense every time a player hits a shot. As for attire and shoes, dress comfortably (but in proper taste) because it’s a very long day and could include a great deal of walking. Enjoy the course and players respectfully, and you can’t go wrong!
David
Jan 23, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Spikeless shoes are one thing but I must say I find it pretty comical when I see spectators wearing soft spiked golf shoes to a PGA Tour event. Do they think they belong out there walking with the Pros? Do they think they are cooler than you? I get that they are waterproof and great for walking around a golf course but are they going to make that big of a difference compared to wearing regular running shoes? I will stick to my New Balance running shoes for walking the course as a spectator.
Steve U.
Jan 21, 2015 at 2:52 pm
I worked at the Oakland Hills PGA in 2008. Tiger Woods did not appear at that event because he was rehabilitating his knee injury. The anticipated crowds did not appear, as the Walmart Tiger fans stayed home in droves. Kind of sad, really, that people can be such ‘fair weather’ fans. It did make viewing a lot nicer for those true golf lovers who did show up.
Billy
Jan 24, 2015 at 1:08 am
Breaking News: Tiger Woods appearing/playing = More attendance.
terry
Jan 17, 2015 at 12:28 pm
#! is funny. I have always thought that….
Swingblade
Jan 16, 2015 at 2:59 pm
I guess you could have specified golf shoes are OK if attending in bad rainy weather. But, that is only logical and no one should have felt the need to point out that possible shortcoming. What you seemed to be saying is that, people who wear golf shoes to walk around on grass look like tools to most folks. With respect to comments by others above, the trouble with a small number of today’s spectators is that they are convinced it is all about them and their supposed inherent right to do anything they want and screw anyone who disagrees. They are the problem and no one is going to win an argument with anyone who was so poorly brought up by equally self serving indifferent parents.
Straightdriver235
Jan 19, 2015 at 1:11 pm
No, no golf shoes period. If it is muddy, wear lightweight gripping hiking shoes like Vasque, Northface, etc. They do look like tools, and looking like a tool is a major issue, it detracts from others aesthetic pleasures. But I personally disagree with the cigar comments… smoke small, refined ones, and stay up wind from the crowds when you do so, or better yet a pipe with something like Dunhilll in hit. Now I’ll provide one tip, that none of you will follow, and you may say I am a tool for doing it, but I wear a comfortable bicycle shirt, without a lot of logos, of course, because of the excess amount of reachable pockets in the back that do not encumber you throughout the day. This allows you to carry a whole bunch of stuff legitimately, handsfree, including cigar tubes, plus they are sport shirts designed for such activities.
KK
Feb 2, 2015 at 10:37 pm
Most of the guys I know don’t have hiking shoes. Most guys I know don’t have bicycle shirts either. Which, btw, if you’re gonna do that, I think you should just go all the way and wear the shorts and bicycle shoes too. At least your outfit would be cohesive.
Frode
Feb 10, 2015 at 3:39 pm
I LOL’ed when I read this, you think people that walks around a golf course wearing golf shoes looks like tools, but you’re out there in a bicycle shirt because it’s so practical with those pockets? Well played sir 🙂
Steve
Jan 14, 2015 at 10:18 am
Ben, you lost me at item # 1. You see, I don’t play football or baseball, therefore I don’t wear those shoes to those events. I do play golf….and walking a golf course and attending a tournament is a completely different fan experience unless you are inclinded to find a bleacher seat behind a green and sit there all day. I’ll wear my FootJoy’s on the course, thank you very much. Oh, and if you don’t mind, I’ll put change shoes in the parking lot with my trunk lid up. I hope you can handle that.
Obee
Jan 11, 2015 at 8:51 pm
I’ll continue to match my shoes to whatever it is I’m looking to do and, most importantly, the conditions I’m going to be in while wearing them. At a PGA tournament in the dry southwest, I’m probably going to wear lightweight, cool running shoes or even comfortable sandals. But if I’m going to a tournament where the ground is wet, I’m going to wear a comfortable to walk in, yet waterproof shoe. The only waterproof shoes I own are golf shoes, so yes, I’ll wear them to a PGA Tour event. There was a time when I would care what others might think, but I can finally, thankfully say (at 47 years old), that I both have worn and will continue to wear spikeless golf shoes to watch PGA tournaments when it’s even the slightest bit wet.
Jack
Jan 13, 2015 at 4:04 am
Spikeless ones are a great choice.
bradford
Jan 22, 2015 at 10:47 am
Agreed, I like to hit up the college tournaments if possible, because you can walk the fairways with the guys. I also only have one type of shoes for these conditions…so yeah.
APC
Jan 11, 2015 at 9:16 am
This whole notion of a “gentlemens game” has flown out the window… With Tigers vulgar mouth, Patrick Reed’s nice 3 putt, you @$%#@$, and all the other prima donna actions, these guys are still making millions off the fans, not the other way around…. Why not have a PGA event where people don’t have to be quiet, like the world series or Superbowl… Crowd noise is fun.. And I’m willing to bet that event would be awesome ……. Obvious argument to my point, most people are stupid and take things too far…. But still
dunn2500
Jan 11, 2015 at 3:30 pm
Hey cursing has been around 4 ever and yes even golfers of nicklaus and hogan era cursed on course….it just wasn’t caught on camera or televised….nothing has changed except technology and every spectator basically having a camera and recorder in their hands vs nobody having it 20 yrs ago and beyond…..golf is frustrating….every recreational golfer who actually cared about his game has cursed on the course…..i would be willing to bet the people who slam the pros for profanity are actually much worse when they play…..people are always looking for slightest error so they can pounce on them….it’s sad but that is our world today…..
bradford
Jan 22, 2015 at 10:49 am
They have that event, at Scottsdale. I won’t even watch it…can’t stand watching morons getting drunk–that’s what football and Nascar are for.
Steve
Jan 11, 2015 at 3:09 am
Jeeze. After going through these comments, you’d think these guys play on extremely hilly courses in pouring rain every week.
Sizzle
Jan 10, 2015 at 11:05 pm
No beer or cigar? Then I would just fall asleep like I do watching these clowns playing a 5 hr round from home.
bradford
Jan 22, 2015 at 10:51 am
I’m a cigar guy too, but I think the point was more about the choice of location. I won’t kid myself that at least several people hate the smell, so I make it a point to be separate from the crowd.
Chris C
Jan 10, 2015 at 9:22 pm
As an owner of at least several dozen pairs of Ecco golf shoes, I wear them for comfort and functionality. Accordingly, when I have attended various PGA events, I have worn a pair of Ecco golf shoes. I also wear them when I walk the dog; when I accompany my wife to the local mall; when I go fishing and when I am simply kicking back. I do not wear them in an attempt to pose as one of the players. My alternatives include a collection of wing tips, cowboy boots, loafers, sandals or or a pair of Baffins rated for 148degrees below zero(which I intend to wear at tomorrow’s Packer game. None of these strikes me as being more appropriate for waking around Whistling Straits.
Sergio
Apr 29, 2016 at 4:18 pm
dork
Ken
Jan 10, 2015 at 5:53 pm
Really, Ben? What’s more comfortable than wearing a pair of great spikeless golf shoes to trek a few miles?
JDMOnly
Jan 10, 2015 at 3:23 pm
Thank goodness I don’t see anyone in California wearing golf shoes to tournaments- Must be a flyover state thing. Wannabe status to the fullest. Sissies worried about mud and slipping, maybe lose a few Pounds you too heavy fat-azzes.
Todd Turner
Jan 10, 2015 at 3:19 pm
I’ll enjoy my cigars and beer.. I just get away from the crowds when puffing..
CDJ
Jan 12, 2015 at 9:52 am
Don’t need beer to enjoy good cigar….but it helps…and I won’t stop either. Should have mentioned the douche cut and glasses instead!
JJC51
Jan 10, 2015 at 12:45 pm
All good and obvious points except the first one. I only own black leather shoes and golf shoes so which would I wear to an event? Because I make the obvious choice I will not suffer to be thought a dweeb.
deh
Jan 10, 2015 at 12:31 pm
Ben,
It appears your article had the intended effect. People have responded, engaged and are talking about it good and bad.
KK
Jan 10, 2015 at 12:31 pm
Ditto the waterproof shoe comment by others.
Chilman
Jan 10, 2015 at 11:47 am
Why no cell phone pics or videos? Mine makes zero noise. We take videos and pics when out golfing to analyze our swings. Has no negative affect, even with the person standing directly behind you. It makes no noise. At PGA event they tell you no cell phones and then there are 6 professional photographers next to you who’s cameras click away a hundred times???? Plus it wouldn’t hurt the tour with more people promoting it thru social media sites.
KK
Jan 10, 2015 at 12:32 pm
Someone would have to screen the noisy camera folks from the noiseless camera folks. Maybe you could volunteer?
SNxTif
Jan 13, 2015 at 3:44 am
Nice one 🙂
For me, I just simply wonder why on earth people would like to shoot a pro with their own phones…
with all youtube videos available…
bragging right? (what to brag anyway)
think that they can do better job at shooting? (with that phone…)
want a shot of the exact outfit???
Golf
Jan 10, 2015 at 7:49 am
I attended a few PGA Golf Tournaments in the 70’s. The only thing that I was interested in or even thought about was enjoying watching the PGA players play golf. I know without a doubt that I nor any of my friends were concerned about whether a spectator had on golf shoes, what they were wearing, saying or doing. Who goes to a PGA Tour event to watch spectators????… Thinking back, I do remember that there were similar annoyances to what is going on currently. I think what the difference is now vs back then is that it is much more concentrated. Last year I bought tickets to attend 3 days of a PGA Tour event. I attended 2 days and that was enough for me. I did not realize that Tour events have evolved into such as it is now. Never say Never, but most likely my last effort to attend a tour event. I love watching golf, playing golf, studing golf, and clubmaking and fitting. Not the least bit interested in spectators.
8thehardway
Jan 10, 2015 at 6:50 am
Cattle have no dignity… thin the herd and the heard by cutting ticket sales 1/3rd. Silence and tranquility will follow.
Mikec
Jan 10, 2015 at 7:22 am
Tournaments are there to make money
wscaddie56
Jan 10, 2015 at 3:09 pm
Hmmm, I thought PGA Tour events were non profit entities, you know like college athletics.
Maybe Bubba should consider playing in noise canceling headphones.
Woody
Jan 10, 2015 at 5:39 am
Try viewing a golf tournament in the UK, when it’s raining.
Faux pas number one about golf shoes would soon become a moot point
gerald
Jan 10, 2015 at 3:37 am
Our culture has coarsened. You see this in demonstration on the golf course especially during a tournament, with loud coarse language, inebriation, and cameras clicking. The lack of civility indicates that the fans are not really golfers, but frequently young males, who use their attendance as an excuse to get out of the house for male companionship and boozing. These bad behaviors are a thing of recent years, as fifty years ago you couldn’t and wouldn’t want to display any discourtesy. Golf shoes have ALWAYS been used by smart tourney attendees because they are waterproof and make hill climbing much safer. Golf once was called “a gentleman’s game”, not because it was masculine, but because you followed rules, both of the game and of decorum.
Jimmy
Jan 10, 2015 at 5:56 am
Gah it’s going to be so great when this generation goes
Chuck
Jan 10, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Wow. I am so tempted to write, “The feeling’s mutual, millennial-boy.” But I’m sort of curious where this generational warfare comes from, in the context of golf shoes.
The younger generation’s taste in golf shoe designs is such that I think I could go to almost any big box retailer and find some golf shoes that look pretty much like gym shoes in any event. Not that I’d want to buy them.
Jimmy
Jan 11, 2015 at 7:52 am
Wow, please die off.
Ken
Jan 10, 2015 at 5:38 pm
Yeah, Jimmy. Once the guys who understand what “class” means are extinct, you’ll move to the front of the line.
don davis
Jan 10, 2015 at 3:32 am
I don’t know how the pros put up with the crazies at golf tournaments.
Well oiled from often free booze. Golf tournaments are fun but they are a bit much sometimes. You forgot the women in hight heels.
Ian
Jan 10, 2015 at 12:41 am
haha,terrible article Ben, everything you listed in the “not to do” section is what makes our game great. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY cares about Webb winning the U.S Open. However I do agree with adults asking for autographs (unless it is for their kid). Mashed potatoes was great, Tiger even mentioned how he got a chuckle from it @ Isleworth a month ago.
Ben, can you break 80?
Juan Ayala
Jan 10, 2015 at 12:17 am
Sorry Ben but you’re absolutely wrong about wearing golf shoes at a tournament. First of all I don’t know why it’s so offensive to you. You’re on a golf course idiot, you can wear golf shoes. What’s next, I can’t wear a golf shirts or golf hats either because I’m not pro. For the record, caddies walk on the flatiest part of the golf course not on the steep sides trampled and made slippery about thousand people walking on it
Jimmy
Jan 10, 2015 at 5:59 am
Your just the guy who looks like an idiot and people get a chuckle out of
Kyle
Jan 10, 2015 at 9:56 am
Lol. So you’re the guy I laugh at at tournaments.
Jack
Jan 13, 2015 at 4:10 am
Well golf shoes are better than if a woman wore high heels to a golf course. That’d be funny.
Chris S
Jan 9, 2015 at 11:57 pm
Way to offend lots of golf fans Ben. Well done.
Kyle
Jan 10, 2015 at 9:55 am
Lol. So you’re the guy I laugh at at tournaments.
Justin
Jan 9, 2015 at 8:37 pm
I will always where golf shoes in the event of rain. Before,after, or otherwise forecast. hills with crowd paths and water turn into mud slides. We buy them to walk the course, this instance is no different. And when we do (buy them) we get cleats and make sure they come with a two year water warranty. It’s a game played in the elements and in being in proximity to the memorial, wgc Bridgestone, oakmont and Rochester, I’ll be on some hills. So this should be on the next list… What to do…
Kyle
Jan 10, 2015 at 9:57 am
You buy spikes to have traction when swinging, not comfort for watching tournaments. Why would you wear golf shoes with spikes when you’re not golfing? Makes zero sense
Rob
Jan 9, 2015 at 7:45 pm
Ben,
I have to respectably disagree with not wearing golf shoes to a PGA golf event..I have been to a dozen or so tournaments in the Northeast, and have learned from experience years ago. My golf shoes are waterproof.. Why should I trash my sneakers. When you walk around, you end up in the most trashed areas of what once was grass, where a little rain turns it into mud pits. I was at Merion for the Thursday of the US Open when it poured in the morning.. Thank god I had them on.. Thanks FootJoy!!
Chuck
Jan 9, 2015 at 7:39 pm
Ben, you’re a good writer and I ordinarily enjoy pretty much everything you post. I especially like your work on reporting the latest golf patents.
Your list should have started — and ended — with “NO MORE ‘BABA BOOEY’, ‘GET IN THE HOLE’ AND ‘MASHED POTATOES’.” It would have been funnier, more effective and better for professional golf if a ‘Top Ten List’ had “No more Baba Booey” as items 1 through 9.
As for golf shoes on the golf course, I ordinarily don’t wear golf shoes as a spectator, but I have done it before, I may do it again, and I would not care what you thought about it.
The simple reason that caddies never wear golf shoes is because they stand next to the hole, right around the hole, on ever hole. At least one caddy does. And nobody wants their spike marks a foot and a half away from the cup.
I’m not trying to act like a player. I’m trying to walk about five miles on a golf course, comfortably. I’m not sure if you’ve ever walked a rain-soaked Muirfield Village, or Augusta, or Whistling Straits. Your association of not wearing spikes to a football game or a baseball game is idiotic. I am not on the field at a football game or baseball game. I am on the golf course at a Tour event. It’s assuredly not a big to me; it’s just a bit more comfortable, in some cases. Don’t tell me I am wrong about that because I am not.
As for wearing cleats at a football game, you may be too young to remember Woody Hayes, Joe Paterno or Bo Schembechler. I dare you ti find a picture of any of them without some sort of cleats in a game. They didn’t wear helmets or shoulder pads. They weren’t playing. They wore windbreakers. But cleats made sense for their feet.
I’m not wrong about all of this, Ben. You are. And please don’t talk to us about any sort of “wannabe” factor in this debate. The events I much prefer to attend, because of your entire list of pet peeves (in which I mostly share) are the USGA amateur events. And as often as not, when you see officials, match referees and scorers at those events, they are wearing cleats if they have to reliably walk the whole course in damp conditions. I’ve seen USGA and Masters Committeemen wearing cleats. They aren’t pretending about anything.
ken
Jan 9, 2015 at 7:32 pm
-On very rare occasions, i will enjoy a cigar at one of these events….I stand well back from the ropes.
– I will scowl at the “yellers”….Hoping they see my utter disdain over their annoying attempts at attracting attention…
-I cannot stand anyone over the age of 15 who shows up in Ricky Fowler attire.
-Attention grownups….Autographs and player tossed balls to the gallery ARE FOR KIDS…..
-NO GOLF SHOES…You look like a dweeb.
-Snarky comments about players should be kept to your group. Saying them out loud makes one look like they crave attention. And are pretty stupid people.
-those who have course knowledge…it’s ok to bestow that…..on those with whom you are attending…Nobody else cares. Keep it down so the rest of us cannot hear you….
-Stay OFF your phone…..
I stand down from my soap box.
bill
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:17 pm
Why are you essentially repeating what I just read in the article?
Jack
Jan 13, 2015 at 4:11 am
Do you yell at Fowler too? He’s definitely older than 15.
marcel
Jan 9, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Duffer’s wife is hot! period or without!
marcel
Jan 9, 2015 at 7:36 pm
If I was straight I’d definately try to “dj” her
JHM
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:44 pm
might be worth it anyway
alan
Jan 9, 2015 at 4:46 pm
douchey guy at least has a nice panerai
ken
Jan 9, 2015 at 7:32 pm
Yes, she is….But every one else knows this….
Golfraven
Jan 10, 2015 at 2:06 pm
Yes, and looks like my brother, real j…
LPGA
Jan 9, 2015 at 3:54 pm
Although, I do get a laugh at them because it looks like they are sucking on a turd, Cigar guy…you are the worst! Smell is as offensive as the dis guarded cigar butts on the ground. I imagine it is like the, ‘Hey! Look at me!’ type behavior you see in adolescent boys. Do you need to smoke those things out in a crowd of people? It doesn’t make you look appealing or attractive.
James
Jan 9, 2015 at 3:48 pm
Just have some class and dignity and all should be well.
birdeez
Jan 9, 2015 at 2:50 pm
The fact that we have to have this top 10 of what should be common sense things says a lot about the society we’ve grown to become.
How sad and pathetic yet how completely accurate this top 10 is. Part of the reason for those that simply can’t follow the basic rules and have an ounce of respect is that no one enforces the rules and the penalties are virtually non existent. how about the next time a guy pulls his phone out and snaps a pic and makes a noise, the phone is confiscated and the fan is given some time in the penalty box.
Jafar
Jan 9, 2015 at 2:04 pm
I’ve never been to a PGA event. But it’s good to know what kind of people I might encounter…
May just stick to watching it on TV…
Tim
Jan 9, 2015 at 2:18 pm
If you are a true Golf fan you owe it to yourself to go and see the best players in the world in person, TV doesn’t do it justice. Who cares what other people around you are doing, and what this writer says. A Golf course is a big area, just steer away from the beer stands where the drunks hang out and its a great time.
Robeli
Jan 9, 2015 at 4:51 pm
Too expensive.
Jafar
Jan 9, 2015 at 7:39 pm
Thomas and I love to curl up in bed with a cup of joe (or just Joe) and watch or at least golf channel is on if we’re in bed and not watching
Randy Dandy
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:55 pm
Never tell them you took a lesson from Monte S . The entire tour can’t stand that guy with his teaching fallacies . No clue what he is babbling about
Jay
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:47 pm
“Douchily Attired” That was the funniest part of this article. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be funny. I’ll bet you an Alec Bradley Sun grown that the douchiest guys at the event will not be the ones smoking cigars.
GABirddog
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:45 pm
Obviously this peckerwood has not been to Augusta in the Spring. Members, volunteers, press, Patrons, etc wear golf shoes. I’d love to see him covered in stinky black mud and green grass stains when he busted his butt after a rain storm.
Robeli
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:38 pm
Spectators wearing golf shoes are snobs and show-offs.
Tim
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Hate these types of articles, Golfwrx get rid of this hack!
Frank
Jan 9, 2015 at 7:42 pm
Fully agree. Basically sayin…….dont do anything but be a stiff at a sporting event! Golf sucks because of these stupid articles.
Smoking cigars….cool
Drinking cold beer in hot weather….cool
Weather golf shoes on a golf course….cool
Bird calling any time an arrogant rich daddys boy wins…. Cool
This article was lame!
leftright
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:01 pm
I don’t drink much but do like the positive cigar comments I have seen from this article. A cigar on the golf course is like a fine liquor after dinner, they just go together. I would not smoke it in a crowd but for Christ’s sake I’m outdoors and trying to relax. Most people who hate smoking are hypocrits, either doing some other vice they have or smoking pot, if in Washington and Colorado. I actually had some idiot tell me pot smoking is not as bad as cigar smoking. He is wrong beyond comprehension as cigar smoking cannot be compared to either not unless you inhale the cigar which few people do.
Bob Williams
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Sometimes it’s better to zip it and let everyone assume you have no clue than to open it and remove all doubt….
. I actually had some idiot tell me pot smoking is not as bad as cigar smoking. He is wrong beyond comprehension as cigar smoking cannot be compared to either not unless you inhale the cigar which few people do.
Read more at http://www.golfwrx.com/267551/10-things-not-to-do-at-a-pga-tour-event/#aJXoGHSuDJWeX4GV.99
That idiot is actually 100% correct and you couldn’t me more incorrect. Cigar smokers can get mouth and throat cancer and several other cancers from cigars just as easily as a user of chewing tobacco. Inhaling has nothing to do with it. The lack of inhaling may lower their chances of lung cancer but all the other sites are fully exposed. And what do you think happens when saliva is swallowed during a 30 min-90 min cigar? It’s carrying all of that crap right down with it. Yet, in the history of the world nobody has ever got cancer from smoking pot. If you know of a case, please post a link. Let me guess, you probably also don’t think there is any medical benefit to it? Not enough research for you. So all of the cancer patients who use it for appetite stimulant, nausea and pain management are wrong? All of the parents who have given their little kids oils from pot (minus the THC mind you. Hope you and everybody realizes that. We’re talking about the equivalent of non alcoholic beer here)whose 300-1000 seizures a day magically drop to a few a week. Mind you, this usually occurs when the patients and parents have tried and exhausted all pharmaceutical medications.
James
Jan 9, 2015 at 3:47 pm
Uh, there really isn’t enough evidence to say no one has gotten cancer from pot. Here is a UK article on it and that is what they say. It’s inconclusive but pot smoke contains 50 known carcinogens. I would suspect utilization of pot is different but to claim no one has ever gotten cancer from it is pretty wrong when we simply don’t know.
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/cancer-questions/does-smoking-cannabis-cause-cancer
Chris
Jan 9, 2015 at 12:51 pm
1. If you think the article is dumb, don’t read it. Title clearly states what it entails. Read the title. Not your cup of tea, move on.
2. Golf shoes. No your feet arent wet. Yes you do look like a d-bag.
3. Tour stops have quickly become more about the social gatherings….even at Augusa. Half the people there unfornutately couldnt care less about golf. Sad but true and with that, you will get the type of patrons that true golf fans hate…just part of it.
Richard Hurtz
Jan 9, 2015 at 3:47 pm
Here, here Chris. I’ve been scratching my head about the necessity and absurdity of people who feel the need to wear golf shoes at events. Complete idiocy and I’m sorry the muddiness excuse carries zero weight. Those who are insulted by this fun little article are likely guilty of many of the things on the list. Common sense would serve these people well, but I know that is very rare these days.
Former Pro from the 70s
Jan 9, 2015 at 11:38 am
Chill out Ben, fans make golf successful. Most people who make a living at this game realize and appreciate that. Here’s a suggestion: If you woke up on the wrong side of bed and need to throw rocks, try picking on somebody who deserves it, like the USGA and R&A. They’ve been asleep at the wheel for 2 decades on equipment regulation for Tour players (not casual golfers) and now it’s too late. Many classic courses have been rendered obsolete and to a large extent so are the shotmaking skills once required to differentiate pros from would-be pros. Baseball figured out when aluminum bats were appropriate (amateur leagues) and it saved many stadiums, but not the USGA.
Jack Nash
Jan 9, 2015 at 11:30 am
You gotta admit, The Bird Guy was funny.
Joe Golfer
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:17 pm
I think I’ve seen that “Bird Guy” on the Jimmy Kimmel show. He makes a habit of showing up at press conferences and doing or saying odd things for comedic effect.
Wayne N.
Jan 9, 2015 at 11:29 am
As long as the PGA allows inappropriate behavior to continue…it will…and it will get worst.
Golf is perhaps one of the remaining sports that adhere to some resemblance of appropriate behavior and decorum. Depending on the mix of attendees and even perhaps where the event is held, there are varying degrees of bad behavior.
Hence, it’s sometimes refreshing to watch the Asian Tour on the Golf Channel.
Wayne N.
Jan 9, 2015 at 8:02 pm
After seeing the way straight guys act at sporting events,
Makes me glad to be the way I am.
Knobbywood
Jan 9, 2015 at 11:08 am
Apparently many of the readers of this website fit neatly into the above categories… As per their outraged comments bashing the author for calling them out for their idiocy
Beer and cigar guy
Jan 9, 2015 at 11:01 am
Slam your beers. Smoke your cigars just do it respectfully. And as far as language goes, tell your kid to understand that he’s in crowd of such awful people that do awful things like say the f word, smoke cigars and drink the unholiest of beverages. It’s called growing up and learning how to behave.
Chris
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:58 am
Until Nike makes a pair of waterproof tennis shoes, people are going to wear golf shoes. Get over it. I don’t see why this freaks so many people out. Some people don’t want to spend their day with soggy feet. If they come out wearing golf gloves carrying their bag through the gallery then you can laugh at them.
leftright
Jan 9, 2015 at 12:57 pm
I have a pair of Ecco Bioms and they are the most comfortable shoes I have. I don’t wear them to tournaments but for walking a lot they would be my first choice besides my pair of New Balances.
DG
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:58 am
I’m so f@$king tired of these kind of articles and comments from the ‘experienced’ golfer. When did everyone become so damn judgmental? We live in a somewhat free society. If an attendee has paid for his or her admission and wants to drink beer and wear golf shoes, God bless them. Last time I checked, golf should be thankful someone showed up, or is still paying green fees at the local muni or resort. This is a tough time for golf… Just let people be and enjoy their time.
ben
Jan 9, 2015 at 12:07 pm
Amen! I’m tired of these kinds of article and threads! People calling people posers, fashion police, behaving like golf is some kind of sacred members only, purist game. Its a GAME! And if we want it to be around much longer in a practical, affordable way, we need people to play.
Also, every other major game/sport has to contend with distractions/pressure during play. I think pictures/video should be allowed at professional tourneys. If a faint click can throw you off your game maybe you need to work on your focus/mental toughness! You’re a professional athlete after all!
birdeez
Jan 9, 2015 at 2:54 pm
i could care less about the cigars or the shoes, but the yelling after shots is flat out annoying. equally annoying is those that blatantly ignore the no cameras rule. other than that, have a good time, don’t be obnoxious, and dress as foolish as you want.
Worst Article Ever
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:53 am
Dumbest thing I’ve seen on this website yet. And as a cigar smoker, I’m insulted by the insinuation that we all act inappropriately.
leftright
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:02 pm
Second that..
John F. Erickson
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:49 am
Lamest article ever written. Beer and Cigar guy is the only reason people go to these things. You can’t see squat, so you may as well enjoy the the weather and drink up.
labillyboy
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:16 pm
Amen…
Telling other people how to live… must be a Demokrat.
Yes, wearing golf shoes as a spectator does look stupid, but hey, who am I going to laugh at and make fun of while smoking and drinking, if they don’t show up?
MHendon
Jan 9, 2015 at 2:01 pm
“Telling other people how to live… must be a Demokrat.” I think that would be more of a Republican action not Democrat.
steve
Jan 9, 2015 at 7:43 pm
“Yes, wearing golf shoes as a spectator does look stupid, but hey, who am I going to laugh at and make fun of while smoking and drinking, if they don’t show up?”
Haha, nice.
Josh
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:44 am
Top Thing Not To Do In Life…
1. Tell people how to conform…let people do what they want
If they want to wear golf shoes let them…sure they look goofy but very happy
If a dude can’t enjoy a cigar and a beer at a golf tournament that sucks
If I want to yell…guess what I’m at a sporting event
I could go on but it’s worthless telling people what to do…
enrique
Jan 9, 2015 at 11:01 am
If you want to yell you’re going to? You’re obviously “that guy”.
“Sporting Event” doesn’t allow you to shout ridiculous things while everyone else is silent.
Go try it at Wimbledon or the US Open (tennis).
Next you’ll be posting how it defeats your civil right to Freedom of Speech.
leftright
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:05 pm
At Wimbledon everyone has a bamboo pole up their butt as most English events do, except soccer. The last US Open I watched they were loudmouthing from the stands bigtime but you are correct, people should not yell at a golf tournament.
Bob
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:42 am
Marshalls??? We went to see the US Open at Pebble a fews back and waited at the tee box on hole #4 for about 1 hour in order to catch a glimpse of Mickelson. Phil arrive with 4 volunteer Marshalls, the Marshalls stand right in front of us and put their arms up. Quiet. No one was moving or making a sound. These guys are the worst offenders.
DevonC
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:39 am
What a pointless article. Please write something more useful next time.
Zooch79
Jan 9, 2015 at 12:26 pm
His back-up article was how to water proof your sneakers. But he probably figured this one would get some laughs… Oops.
Matt
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:38 am
Clearly you did not attend the ’09 US Open at Bethpage. I wore sneakers Tues and Wednesday. When deluge was in the forecast for thursday I wore my waterproof golf shoes. Best decision of the week. Wore them every day. By the end of the week they were toast, but my feet were not. Do better with your top 10 lists.
PT
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:49 am
Nailed the 09′ US Open comment. It was priceless watching girls coming out from the city in heals trying to walk through that mess.
Former Pro from the 70s
Jan 9, 2015 at 11:56 am
Absolutely! That stretch to the right of 12 fairway and then left of 13 fairway was like the Bataan mud march.
WhoNeedsFairways
Jan 9, 2015 at 11:08 am
I second that. I was there in 09 at Bethpage and an old pair of FootJoys served me very well.
It’s not about stability… it’s about not destroying a regular pair of sneakers with mud etc.
Stupid article.
Big Dave
Jan 9, 2015 at 12:57 pm
Also at ’09 Bethpage Open. Watching on #5 green (standing next to Notah Begay outside the ropes), a spectator advised Tiger “Yo Tiger, this putt is slow, everyone is leaving it short.” Tiger rolls it to 3″‘ joker yells, “See I told you it was slow. “. Begay just shakes his head.
I’ve also been to USTA US Open tennis, amazing the number of spectators in tennis dresses. Maybe Venus Williams will be sick and Serena will pull a fan from the stands as a doubles partner?
Shallowface
Jan 11, 2015 at 7:23 am
I like girls in tennis dresses.
Regis
Jan 9, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve been to a number of majors including both Opens at Bethpage. When it really rains and the Open rough gets soaked the spectator areas and walking paths are like a slip and slide. And putting down plywood doesn’t do much. There were a number of people carted away in ambulances with broken ankles and wrists and such. A fair number of lawsuits against the USGA as well
Chip Hunt
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:31 am
Well the PGA championship at Valhalla last year was treacherous to get around after all the rain. I didn’t wear golf shoes, but I wished I had a few times. I saw a lot of patrons covered in mud after slipping and falling. I have very good balance but sometimes it was like skiing downhill in my running shoes. I do smoke cigars but I find a place away from the crowd so smoke is not blowing in someone’s face. Golf courses are huge so it’s easy to find a spot to chill and have a stogie.
erkr
Jan 9, 2015 at 9:57 am
My golf shoes are waterproof. My other shoes not.
TheBrokenTee
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:15 am
That’s right. My street shoes aren’t for walking through wet, soggy rough on a golf course. My golf shoes are.
Enrique
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:24 am
Idiot. You want people to know you golf. Wear tennis shoes like a caddie. They walk in the rough too.
We laugh at the guys at these event wearing golf shoes.
Cliff
Jan 9, 2015 at 11:19 am
Laugh all your want! Caddies get to walk down the fairway 99% of the time and I’m sure the have some sort of waterproof shoe. A caddie is on the course for 5 hours while some spectators are there 8-10 hours.
leftright
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:09 pm
Why? Most of the comments have stated the article writer as wrong. Golf shoes are made for wet weather, walking in and offer better support than sneakers. Seems to me wearing golf shoes would be the better choice. With all the spikeless designs out now they would be appropriate.
me
Jan 9, 2015 at 3:46 pm
Sorry but to anyone that wears spikes at an event, you are a douche. People on here talking about wearing them to avoid broken legs and ankles?? wtf? Stop it already. You don’t go out wearing golf shoes in rainy weather, or when hiking. The fact that caddies don’t even wear spikes just says it all. Spikeless casuals are ok.
leftright
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:11 pm
Wish you had laughed at my guys at the Copperhead in Florida last year. Gary is a +3, I’m scratch, Bryan is +1 and Dennis is a 1. I guess we don’t know what we are doing.
SBoss
Jan 9, 2015 at 2:03 pm
I live in an area with a ton of hills. When the PGA is in town, guys have golf shoes on everywhere. Nobody wants to walk up or down hills without some good traction….
Also, nobody is wearing golf shoes to advertise that they play golf. Most of the spectators have played some golf…
I’ll agree with the “mashed potatoes” and “bobba booyie” crap.
Shallowface
Jan 10, 2015 at 10:06 pm
I’m as bad as you Enrique. I laugh at the guys with mud on their backs from slipping and falling because they were worried someone may notice what they have on their feet.
Little disturbed here by all of the guys admitting they stare at other men’s feet.
Travis
Jan 9, 2015 at 9:31 am
Who would be left if you excluded all those types!!
Captain Oblivious
Jan 9, 2015 at 9:45 am
Patrons. See: Augusta National