Huron Expositor, 1999-08-25, Page 12•
Ij
Sports
Professional' spectators
can plan ahead for events
A few weeks ago the PGA
Tour players were at nearby
Warwick Hills C.C. in Grand
Blanc. Michigan. This
tournament is about as close
as any AGA event gets except
for the Canadian Open held at
Glen Abbey in Oakville.
Mike Weir from Bright's
Grove missed the cut at the
Buick but for Thursday and
-.Friday he had huge galleries
following him..around the
course as his fans from the
Sarnia area made the short
- trip to Warwick Hills to cheer.
biro on.
1 went over on Sunday to
w atch the .final round and
that's what prompted me to
write this column about golf
as. a spectator sport.
'It's not really that .ease
tieing a spectator at a golf
tournament. In fact'1 have had
several• discussions with golf
• pros over the rears who say
that a golf tournament for
most people is really a social
event rather than a sporting
e. ent. Many of the people
attending are there more to be
se -en. themse'1. es than . to
•watch any golf. '
I tend to agree with the pros
especially after u-atchrng and
listening to the rowdy fans
behind the 17th green at the
Buick Open. as ,well as
listening to •continents made.
by milling fans standing
`around the clubhouse patio or
beer tents.
• . Yes.' for many. a golf
tournament is a great place to:
-spend an afternoon in the sun.
meet people. and ha' e a good
- time. This attitude is great for.
the tour and for the `charities
that benefit from the gate
revenues. It also benefits the
true golf fans loo. as n keeps
the prices -down and the
walking galleries down a bit
.100. -
' Here are some hints to help
you plan your next visit to. a
• professional golf tournament_
• -First of all choose Your
event carefully. and.then
choose .our day with the
same care. Most pro tour
events are open to the general.
pobli •arid you can just get a
.ticket at the gate: Even the
British Open fits into this
category. However. there .are
some e.ents that require
adv ance tickets.
The Masters has such a
waiting list for tickets that
u,me people have been on for
.ears. So plan. ahead and
• make sure that you don't.
arrive at the gate on}i to find
out that you can't buy a ticket
atiYwa..'
Choose your day carefully.
too. The mens events
whether P
.Canadian Tour. are all four •
rounds of competitive golf.
Thursday to Sundays. Most.
Senior. Tour events and
LPGA events are three days,
• of competition running Fnda}
to Sunda.: Usually the week
• includes a practice round on
Tuesday. :