Why are The Masters crowd called "patrons" and not "fans" by the sky sports pundits? Is is dumbass american pompossness or is the a difference between a fan and a patron?
I think it's because there are not actually fans, it's a bit like a season ticket with football that is handed down by families to their generations. I think applications ended in something like 1978! Each year there is a lottery that you can apply for where a small number are released for the practice rounds
The merchandise stalls are about a mile long as nothing ever changes with logo and everything is pretty cheap, $3 for beer etc.
The whole point of the Masters is its exclusivity. Love watching it though. Always makes me think that summer is coming.
https://www.golfdigest.com/story/do...ers-just-because-augusta-national-wants-us-to To be honest it's the closest thing the yanks have to a history so don't take it away from them.
It’s the only round of golf I watch. One a year is ample. But what a curmudgeon you would have to be not to be seduced by the azaleas. Always disappointing when an American (Bubba, Jeb, Chad, you can’t make it up) beats the lantern chinned Brit. Btw, I’m in Texas next week (y’all) & my first meeting is with Chad & Brad. Somehow it makes me adore Holebas all the more.
I'm a non golfer, but have been invited to a corporate golf day. It's a great opportunity for networking, so I really want to go, but I fear my lack of golfing prowess will let me down. I've just bought golf shoes and trousers off eBay ( just over a tenner for both items...bargain) and am borrowing some bats from my mate I live in Watford and wonder if anyone can give me advice on where to go for a little bit of coaching beside the event in June Thanks
With the greatest respect, unless you get some serious golf in between now and June and learn the on course etiquette quickly, you will look like a prize t*t. Any driving range will do, (top golf is very expensive for what you need), so I'd suggest the range at Bushey. Get a lesson or 2 as well and it'll help no end. Hit as many balls as you have time for and don't forget that putting can account for nearly half of your score as a new player. Most important is try to get a couple of rounds in with golfers on a public course.
Thanks Diamond, good info, I'll give it a go. Maybe I'll need to rely on my actual job related skills to impress people (that's me fcked then,) BTW I don't need to be on a golf course to look like a prize ***
Bushey country club has closed down now. I’d go to Elstree/Stanmore- better range facilities and a couple of decent pros there Edit:Or are they keeping the range open at bushey?
I agree with Diamond. What is known as "etiquette" is important. A few tips... Always keep quiet when your opponent is on his downswing. Only cough on his backswing. It is good form to laugh when an opponent goes in the trees, a pond or misses an easy putt, as this signifies that it isn't "all that bad" Remember that the player furthest back after the drive goes last with his next shot, acknowledging the other superior drives. Don't worry about replacing divots or raking the sand in the bunkers, these are best left for the groundsman, it's his job. If you lose your ball in the trees, it is standard practice to drop another to replace it, providing you don't gain an advantage under Rule 37 Section 5 Similarly, if you find someone else's ball where yours should be, it is ok to play it instead under Rule 37, Section 6. It is accepted a fair tactic to walk on the persons line on the putting green as long as you don't damage the grass. On the putting green, it is respectful to look along the line of an opponents putt when he is ready to play and "offer advice" like shaking your head in dismay, or saying "left a bit" or "right a bit". A Watford football shirt to match your new trousers would go down well. Using mobile phones are frowned upon when your opponents are playing their shots. Respectfully only use them at other times, or talk very quietly. Good luck and enjoy yourself!
Look up golf etiquette for new players, loads of useful sites out there and you'll have it sussed in a short time. Best advice I ca give you from playing with new players is to tell your group that you're a new player and any advice they can give will be very useful. They'll be talking to you all day after that. You're going to be hitting many more shots than them so just be as quick as you can and do it with humour. When you can't score on a hole, (if you are 3 over the par for the hole), pick your ball up and walk along with the group. If you're not holding them up they'll forgive you anything. Take lots of "used" balls, you will lose lots. Any chance to buy beer for the group do it, (some courses encourage it after 9 holes). Apologies about Bushey, not been there for some time so didn't know it was closed, I use the range between Rickmansworth and Northwood. They also do lessons there. After a couple of visits you'll be able to hit the ball OK, you just won't know where it will be going or how far!
How does top golf work out per ball hit compared to a normal driving range? This isn't anything against top golf, but it just seems like an expensive option for a rank beginner.
It is. I wouldn't recommend it for general practice tbh unless you come when it's BOGOF, but it's a good way to get some practice in with people who might not normally want to play golf. But the coaches do, do some good deals. You can get an hour's lesson for £45 (which I think is expensive, but apparently that's cheap in the golf world) which includes unlimited balls and use of the new Toptracer system.
What on earth was Mickelson thinking? And then brazenly coming out, admitting cheating in his post-round interview and trying to justify it! Worse still, the US golfing authorities have barely punished him and said he wasn’t cheating even though he’s admitted it! Surely they need to retrospectively DQ him or he has to pull out? The archaic governing of golf strikes again.
It is the same as a deliberate foul on the football field, knowing that a yellow card may follow. Breaking the rules is standard practice in football, but it isn't in golf. It only makes the headlines and attracts post's like yours because golfers do not normally break the rules intentionally. He has been punished (by a two stroke penalty) which will likely cost him many thousands of $'s. He will also lose plenty of goodwill and respect that a long and distinguished career has earned him - and I am sure he will be regretting, it deep down. It wouldn't surprise me if he withdraws and does apologise after all.
Wow, just saw the Mickleson thing and am pretty shocked that he did it on purpose. One of the things I love about golf is that all players, (99.99% of the time), totally respect the rules. What Mickleson did as a pro golfer is totally over the line and he should have been kicked out. I still think he will be.
Europe are 11/8 to win later this month. That's huge. I know we've got a few rookies playing but we've been playing some pretty awesome golf so far this year. I'm putting a tenner on Europe to win. Also, Bryson Dechambeau as top Yank points scorer at 9/1 is great odds. Few quid on that too.
Both Rory and Tiger have just shot 62's. All building up to a great event and my tickets for it have just arrived so now doubly excited
A matchup between them would be awesome. Going to watch golf is not for me. Seems like it'd be really boring as a spectator sport.
I kind of agree that watching on TV is slightly better but the atmosphere of this event is incredible and it's being there just for that alone
I get the atmosphere point. Watching it every year is pretty amazing but the format is so much better than standard matchplay, especially if you pick a really close match to follow all the way round.
Eyes will be on the Ryder Cup next week with Justin Rose and Tiger Woods the men in form it seems. Woods winning his first tournament for some time and Rose earning the overall play-off prize.
This should be a cracker! 2 teams on top form, Europe on home soil! Tiger back to awesome form. Rose worlds number 1. I'm chucking a tenner on Europe. only 5/4 so not a great return but makes it more interesting. Wife is away so I'll be watching golf and football in my underpants all weekend!
I always find myself preferring the US team to the European team so I will be supporting the US again this time (although the decision not to take Xander Schauffele annoyed me). I can imagine it being tight enough, Phil and Bubba I think will be the weak links for the US however their quality should shine through. I really don't rate Hatton and Olesen isn't great either. I think Webb Simpson will be one of the surprise packages in terms of points scored.
