Spectator numbers out of hand
Having been to all four majors and two Ryder Cups, your article hit home for me (“Bigger may not be better for future Opens,” Oct. 6, GGP). The number of spectators has gotten out of hand. I have no plans to attend golf events as a spectator, except for the Masters.
I stopped attending the U.S. Open after I purchased a ticket in 2011 that provided access to an indoor venue with food and beverage. However, the USGA sold way more than the venue could accommodate and so when I wanted to go, I couldn’t get in.
My last PGA Championship was 2012. Too many people at Kiawah. I couldn’t see golf. My last Ryder Cup was 2014. Again, too many people and not enough golf at Gleneagles.
My last Open was Carnoustie in 2018. The R&A stopped selling greenside tickets to individuals and started wooing the corporate entities.
The best seat is in my house with air conditioning and chilled beverages.
Marianne Harris
Augusta, Georgia
Muirfield’s pushback refreshing
Good article (“Bigger may not be better for future Opens,” Oct. 6, GGP). Very pleased to hear pushback from the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield.
I have provided very clear and direct feedback to R&A leadership about this more than once. Lotteries years ahead for overpriced tickets are bad enough, but to turn up and find galleries 12 deep, stands full and no return rules for bathroom breaks, queues for very remote parking when arriving and leaving, enormous queues for expensive food and drinks, and braying tents full of champagne-swilling corporately entertained city types is not what golfers want to see at their Open.
Their response was that they understand but that I should understand how useful the money is to grow the game, but I am unconvinced. They have many sources of funds, TV revenue notwithstanding, and too many uses of funds.
Steve Horton
Aberdeen, Scotland
Corporate dollars rule
I quite agree (“Bigger may not be better for future Opens,” Oct. 6, GGP). Bigger is not better. I have stopped going to the Open because the courses are too crowded and you can’t see a thing. All the R&A seems to be interested in is making loads of money from the corporate hospitality brigade.
Roy Povey
Hunstanton, England
The other side of Ryder Cup pay
Great column with a lot of spot-on takes on U.S. Ryder Cup actions that need attention (“Passion required for U.S. Ryder Cup reversal,” Oct. 6, GGP).
However, the one topic that continues to arise unfairly is the Americans being paid for their participation. This has been painted widely as “American greed” vs. the “honorable” take of the Europeanss. No one ever seems to mention the difference is that the DP World Tour owns the Ryder Cup’s European interest, largely subsidizing a huge portion of that tour’s entire viability.
The European players are getting plenty of money for showing up at the Ryder Cup, in the form of dollars directly to their tour. The American players, meanwhile, see the money on the U.S. side going into the PGA of America, which does very little to benefit PGA Tour members. If the PGA Tour owned the U.S. side of the Ryder Cup, that would be an entirely different situation. Hope that side of the story sees more light in the future.
Pat Abbey
Tampa, Florida
Ryder Cup behavior a disgrace
Thank you for your columns regarding the Ryder Cup. It was embarrassing to watch the way our fans treated the European team. This year’s Ryder Cup was a disgrace for me to watch.
I appreciated both columns and agreed with your ideas for improving our team efforts. I have been most upset about Don Rea’s behavior. On top of the poor fan behavior, one of our supposed leaders did not stand up for the long history of etiquette on the golf course and to apologize until days later.
I do love our team – always. They should be able to focus on play and not have to worry that the fans are hurting their friends on the European team. I do hope we learn the lessons that face us now.
Jennifer King
Portland, Oregon
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