Spectator etiquette notices were posted on the digital boards across Bethpage Black, citing the PGA of America’s “zero-tolerance policy” during the Ryder Cup. And since we were in New York, the comical ineffectiveness of it triggered a whole “Seinfeld” bit in my head.
“I know why we have the zero-tolerance policy,” the PGA of America folks might say.
I don’t think you do. If you did, we wouldn’t have this behavior problem. You know how to make the zero-tolerance policy, you just don’t know how to enforce the zero-tolerance policy. And that’s really the most important part of the zero-tolerance policy – the enforcing. Anybody can just make the policy.
I double dog dare you to throw a beer on Rory McIlroy’s wife, hurl fat jokes at the Euros or shout a single four-letter word on Bobby Jones’ course. Your life as a golf ticket holder would be over.
The PGA might try to tell you it wasn’t so bad at Bethpage (it was REALLY bad). They also might try to tell you that it’s just as bad when the Ryder Cup is held in Europe (it’s most definitely not). And, of course, they’ll try to tell you that effectively policing the behavior of 50,000-plus fans on a golf course is impossible (it’s a copout).
There is one foolproof way to instantaneously fix what has turned into an embarrassing problem for the United States and the Ryder Cup. Just tell all the courses under contract for future U.S. matches (Hazeltine in 2029, Olympic in 2033 and Congressional in 2037) to push them back four years each.
Then hold the 2029 Ryder Cup at Augusta National Golf Club. A one-time only Ryder Cup held at the home of the Masters. I double dog dare you to throw a beer on Rory McIlroy’s wife, hurl fat jokes at the Euros or shout a single four-letter word on Bobby Jones’ course. Your life as a golf ticket holder would be over.
Just as boxing has its Marquis of Queensbury Rules that brought civility and standards to the sweet science, the Ryder Cup needs to adopt the Chairman of Augusta Rules to bring order to the vulgar chaos of crowd misbehavior that has become too commonplace in tarnishing the biennial event when it’s staged in the U.S.
Start with no cell phones – be present in the moment. Then codify what’s acceptable to shout – “USA! USA! USA!” or “Olé! Olé! Olé!” Singing good-natured songs or chants (even clever taunts) would be allowed; screaming personal invectives at individual players, caddies or partners would not.
All of it policed by the usual Masters security force that knows how to keep a single “Mashed potatoes!” or “Get in the hole!” from leaving anyone’s lips without dire (but polite) consequences. Failure to comply puts you on golf’s ultimate “no fly” list that would mean banishment from all future Ryder Cups, Masters, majors … heck, any PGA Tour event ever.
Maybe for one time only, Augusta could loosen its restrictions on commercialization and erect more grandstands to allow fans to get better views of the limited play on the course. You don’t want it to look too much like the season’s first major. And it would have to figure out a way to accommodate a fall event earlier than the 2020 November Masters.
It’s a pipe dream, of course. Augusta is never going to play host to the Ryder Cup. But at the very least, put Augusta National in charge – right now – of rewriting the so-called zero-tolerance policy and enforcing it on U.S. soil. Turn Hazeltine National in 2029 into a northern satellite of Augusta, with all Masters protocols in place. And let everyone know that the future of their participation in events like the Ryder Cup or major championships rests in their ability to act like civilized adults.
It’s the enforcing that matters. Just do it.
Scott Michaux
E-MAIL SCOTT
Top: Patrons walk onto the course to prior to the first round of the 2025 Masters
Michael Reaves, Getty Images