Plea to those attending events

[act0fgod]

I've volunteered at a few events and just finished working the Open at Pinehurst. Most spectators are very polite but figured I'd put a plea out there for those who will attend future events.

 

1) Ropes are put up for a reason. If you do not have an inside the ropes badge you don't get to go past the ropes.

 

2) If a ball goes outside the ropes please do not touch it. Also realize you are going to have to make room for the player to hit. Players are focused on their shots so please do not try to engage them in conversation and please listen to the marshals and caddies who will try and make space.

 

3) Please listen to marshals at crossings. Just because there are people in the crossings doesn't mean you can enter it. If the marshal says it is closed please don't say "but they are coming across"...yes we know we are clearing out the crossing and closing it from both sides if you enter we'll have to wait till you get to the other side.

 

4) Realize crossings are going to close well in advance. Priority is given to players not to fans. Making fans wait at a crossing is acceptable, having players wait on the tee for spectators to cross is not acceptable.

 

5) When marshals raise their hands or paddles or whatever please realize this means be quite and stop moving.

 

6) Please do not yell at the top of your lungs shortly after someone hits a tee shot. Doing this may allow your friends at home to hear you and you can tell them that was you (is that really all that cool?) but realize someone on an adjacent tee green or fairway could be on their down swing at the exact same time. Plus it's pretty annoying. The exception to this rule is the Waste Management event in Phoenix. That event is set up for fans to get drunk, rowdy and loud.

 

7) Look at the tournament website and follow the rules posted there.

[Mr22putt]

Hmmmm...let me guess...your were assigned as a marshall?
Yes, marshalls should be allowed to taser anyone who yells "Mashed Potatoes".

[golfheaven69]

Was a Pinehurst last week and all rules were followed. Never witnessed anyone doing something outside the lines other than a few moronic screams.

[SLP1967]

rule #6 should have been listed first.....idiots yelling after every shot is stupid

[yaz75]

I was a Marshall at the old GTE Northwest classic for a few years and all I can say is an emphatic YES to everything you posted.

The one that always gets me is people who crowd around a player trying to hit a recovery shot. They'll literally stick their head out to watch the shot as the player is hitting it right at their big stupid head. professional golfer is swinging a metal club at high speed at a very hard ball and you want to be in the path of that? Idiots.

[Ashley Schaeffer]

I was a hall monitor in 7th grade, and I agree.

[drake47]

At the events I have attended, the volunteer marshals are the most disruptive people on the course. The caddies are constantly having to tell the marshals to move, stand still or be quiet. But I do agree with everything you said.

[TJCDAS]

Funny thing is that on TV is seems to be the volunteers that are always in the way or moving or in the wrong spot.

[SadTrombone]

8) you don't need to wear golf shoes. Whomever told you that you do, has lied to you.

[Frankie Lob Wedge]

[quote name='golfheaven69' timestamp='1403051228' post='9519045']
Was a Pinehurst last week and all rules were followed. Never witnessed anyone doing something outside the lines other than a few moronic screams.
[/quote]

The crowd seemed better behaved than most. The Rent A Cop arresting the caddy was a joke. I would never go to an event at that place. Over the top cops and brown fairways and greens. Pinehurst could learn a lot from Augusta but they are too arrogant.

[NorthTexasGlfr]

FWIW, here's a comment by someone over on Geoff Shackelford's blog about the guy who got arrested.

[i]I saw this guy running around the course on Saturday - the guy was totally out of control for where he was driving. Glad he got arrested - he was rude and obnoxious with no regard for who or what was in front of him. Yelling at people, people yanking kids out of the way to keep them from getting run over. Ridiculous. Hope he gets a serving of humble pie because the guy was a danger.[/i]

[skyking]

I assume the reason cell phones were banned is because some moron would forget to have it on vibrate. We stayed for the practice round yesterday and I really wished I could've taken my phone for pictures.

It did really p*iss me off to see several people with cell phones during the men's open. I don't know if they were marshals or people that just snuck them in as the metal detector didn't do it's job.

[PgaTour2008]

I totally agree! The only thing golf is missing is rules.

[Bob57]

Marshalls should be "required" to taser twice anyone yelling "baba booey". That is getting much more annoying than the old "you the man".. Sad to think members of the whack pack would be admitted to a golf tournament. If they aren't real whack packers that is even sadder...

[toddnt]

..... Common sense!