News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.

Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

ward peyronnin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« on: October 08, 2009, 04:12:00 PM »
Gentlemen,

I would like to take my teenage sons to a tour event next year and crave opinions on if you were to have just one chance a year where would one go. I suppose criteria would be ticket availability/access to course and players, quality of field, course appeal, etc.

For example Phoenix is to big a party; i hear harbortown still retains a nice feel, obviously the Masters is too hard a ticket to punch, what else?

Thanks
Ward    ;)
Logged
"Golf is happiness. It's intoxication w/o the hangover; stimulation w/o the pills. It's price is high yet its rewards are richer. Some say its a boys pastime but it builds men. It cleanses the mind/rejuvenates the body. It is these things and many more for those of us who truly love it." M.Norman

Eric Smith

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #1 on: October 08, 2009, 04:13:50 PM »
Ward,

There are always a lot of pretty girls walking around at The Verizon!   I say go to Hilton Head.
Logged

Greg Chambers

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #2 on: October 08, 2009, 04:16:49 PM »
Eric,

If it's pretty girls you're after, no place is better than Scottsdale.  Period, end of story.
Logged
"It's good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling.”

Eric Franzen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #3 on: October 08, 2009, 04:17:11 PM »
How about Northern Trust Open at Riviera?

You will experience a decent field at an interesting course.
Logged

Jfaspen

Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2009, 04:27:09 PM »
I'd go to Pebble.

You get to see Pebble Beach as well as MPCC and Spyglass.  You get a great field (Rumor is that Tiger will be back, Phil should be playing as well).  Good opportunity to compare and contrast courses
Logged

Eric Franzen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2009, 04:31:54 PM »
Quote from: Jeffrey Formanczyk on October 08, 2009, 04:27:09 PM
I'd go to Pebble.

You get to see Pebble Beach as well as MPCC and Spyglass.  You get a great field (Rumor is that Tiger will be back, Phil should be playing as well).  Good opportunity to compare and contrast courses

You will also get George Lopez...  ;)
Logged

Bill Brightly

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #6 on: October 08, 2009, 04:34:17 PM »
Whatever event you go to, I would recommend going to one ofthe practice rounds, especially if your son likes to get autographs. Maybe a Wed-Thu so you can see one practice round and one real round.

The crowds are far smaller, the players will joke around, and I find it a great way to see the course.

In my business I am offered passes to many tournaments, and I always ask for practice rounds, then watch the event (especially Sundays) on my TV!
Logged

Garland Bayley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #7 on: October 08, 2009, 04:35:09 PM »
Alas, I always wanted to see them play modified Stableford at Castle Pines, and have a milk shake or two.
Logged
"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

Tim Leahy

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #8 on: October 08, 2009, 04:52:00 PM »
Quote from: Eric Franzen on October 08, 2009, 04:17:11 PM
How about Northern Trust Open at Riviera?

You will experience a decent field at an interesting course.

I can second Riviera, tickets are cheap, crowds not excessive, great multiple hole viewpoints, great natural amphatheater 18th hole, see celebs in the crowd, shuttles available but parking is easy, great course and club house.
Logged
I love golf, the fightin irish, and beautiful women depending on the season and availability.

George Pazin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #9 on: October 08, 2009, 04:57:22 PM »
If I were taking my son, I'd simply go to the closest to me, which would end up being The Memorial.

If I were looking to see a tremendous course AND make my wife happy, I'd go to The Mercedes. :)

Hard to go wrong with:

- AT&T pro-am at Pebble
- Riviera
- The Players
- Any major

One thing to keep in mind is that, as far as sports spectating goes, golf isn't particularly great. You don't get to see nearly as much as you'd see by simply turning on the tube. However, for the gca geek, there is nothing like seeing a course in person, as well as seeing multiple groups of excellent players go through, to see how a hole plays for the best guys.
Logged
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Anthony_Nysse

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #10 on: October 08, 2009, 05:23:29 PM »
Quote from: Greg Chambers on October 08, 2009, 04:16:49 PM
Eric,

If it's pretty girls you're after, no place is better than Scottsdale.  Period, end of story.

When I was at Colonial, the PGA Tour officials commented that The Verizon, The Players and Crowne Plaza are the top 3.....
  I thought that The Players was really good because the course is great, BUT the scale of the event is so big!
Logged
Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

Ash Towe

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #11 on: October 08, 2009, 05:29:20 PM »
From what I have seen on tv the mounding at Sawgrass means there must be great views.  You are not straining to see over people which will be important for the youngsters.
Also the quality of the field would be an attraction.
Logged

mike_malone

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #12 on: October 08, 2009, 05:45:14 PM »
 Tiger comes to Philly!!   Aronimink will be interesting to see. Philly is a great place to celebrate our independence.
Logged
AKA Mayday

cary lichtenstein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #13 on: October 08, 2009, 06:15:30 PM »
Hands down, take your son to Augusta
Logged
Live Jupiter, Fl, was  4 handicap, played top 100 US, top 75 World. Great memories, no longer play, 4 back surgeries. I don't miss a lot of things about golf, life is simpler with out it. I miss my 60 degree wedge shots, don't miss nasty weather, icing, back spasms. Last course I played was Augusta

Jud_T

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #14 on: October 08, 2009, 06:43:11 PM »
I'd go to an off the run event early in the week. Otherwise you don't get to see much as the crowds are overwhelming
Logged
Golf is a game. We play it. Somewhere along the way we took the fun out of it and charged a premium to be punished.- - Ron Sirak

George Pazin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #15 on: October 08, 2009, 06:57:44 PM »
Quote from: Jud Tigerman on October 08, 2009, 06:43:11 PM
I'd go to an off the run event early in the week. Otherwise you don't get to see much as the crowds are overwhelming

Along these lines, attending one of the better Am events - the US Am, the Mid Am, etc - you really get to see the action up close and personal. I don't think I've ever learned as much about gca as the week I spent watching the 03 Am at Oakmont.
Logged
Big drivers and hot balls are the product of golf course design that rewards the hit one far then hit one high strategy.  Shinny showed everyone how to take care of this whole technology dilemma. - Pat Brockwell, 6/24/04

Dan Herrmann

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #16 on: October 08, 2009, 07:42:10 PM »
Come on - if you can get tickets, The Masters!

I don't know if there's an event that treats the public (sorry, patrons) better.
Logged

Wade Whitehead

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #17 on: October 08, 2009, 08:28:50 PM »
Harbour Town really is a fun place to watch the Tour.  Galleries are generally very close to the action, since the golf course is tight, and there are several great spots on the course to let the field pass by.  The stands between 16 green and 17 tee make for a fun Saturday or Sunday afternoon after walking the course all week.

Tournament week provides lots of cool goings-on, including outdoor concerts by the lighthouse.  These are always well attended by players and their families and provide a great chance to interact talk casually with them.

I've always noticed a different player vibe there as well.  The week after The Masters affords a bit of a relaxed atmosphere, which I almost prefer to the uptight, more formal feel of a major.

WW

PS If you can get tickets to Augusta, ignore my post.
Logged

cary lichtenstein

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #18 on: October 08, 2009, 09:04:14 PM »
Tickets are a piece of cake, all over the internet.

Best time to go is Wed and Thursday

Wed does not have the crowds, you can see the players up close and practice putting and chipping around the greens

Also see the par 3 tournament

Thursday you can see the 1st round.

Don't follow Tiger, it is 20 rows deep, but plenty of other action, amazing place
Logged
Live Jupiter, Fl, was  4 handicap, played top 100 US, top 75 World. Great memories, no longer play, 4 back surgeries. I don't miss a lot of things about golf, life is simpler with out it. I miss my 60 degree wedge shots, don't miss nasty weather, icing, back spasms. Last course I played was Augusta

ward peyronnin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #19 on: October 08, 2009, 10:04:39 PM »
Great feedback

Thanks guys

I have taken one son to Augusta when he was 11 and it is impressive,

He got lost and we had set our chairs up behind 18 and agreed to rendezvous there. They were there as was he but i felt a little badly because while i was comfortable knowing he would eventually wind up there and patrons were good citizens and i could take time to scout for  him he was very shaken by the time i caught him; i still feel bad. Just a bit overwhelming. I think Harbortown has the best profile altho the Memorial could be a good venue too. Definitely a thursday round and watch sunday on the telly.  wouldn't the players be pretty crowded?
Logged
"Golf is happiness. It's intoxication w/o the hangover; stimulation w/o the pills. It's price is high yet its rewards are richer. Some say its a boys pastime but it builds men. It cleanses the mind/rejuvenates the body. It is these things and many more for those of us who truly love it." M.Norman

ed_getka

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #20 on: October 08, 2009, 10:14:12 PM »
Quote from: George Pazin on October 08, 2009, 06:57:44 PM
Quote from: Jud Tigerman on October 08, 2009, 06:43:11 PM
I'd go to an off the run event early in the week. Otherwise you don't get to see much as the crowds are overwhelming

Along these lines, attending one of the better Am events - the US Am, the Mid Am, etc - you really get to see the action up close and personal. I don't think I've ever learned as much about gca as the week I spent watching the 03 Am at Oakmont.

I have been to two USGA events (non-Open) with my 10 year old son and he really has enjoyed them immensely. You are standing right next to the golfers practically and walking down the course instead of negotiating ropes and crossings. A WAY better viewing experience IMO.
Logged
"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

mike_beene

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #21 on: October 08, 2009, 10:14:24 PM »
One thing to consider is the practice facility and particularly the short game area.Sure you want to go on the course but watching up close practice is a must for the experience.I love Colonial's big short game area because you cas stand three feet from guys hitting every shot imaginable.The Nelson blocks the view of half the range for example.Not sure how Memorial sets this feature up.
Logged

mike_beene

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #22 on: October 08, 2009, 10:16:50 PM »
Also,avoid proam day.Tuesday or thurs are my favorites.
Logged

Doug Sobieski

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #23 on: October 09, 2009, 09:41:03 AM »
Ward:

Bay Hill is a great option if you are looking to get to Florida in mid-March. One of the best fields of the year for a regular Tour event, easy ticket access, easy to watch players practice up close (if that is something that interests you). Orlando is an easy destination from most places, with relatively cheap flights and lodging and some decent public options nearby if you want to play in the morning before spectating in the afternoon. And there is a high likelihood that Tiger will be playing late in the day on the weekend if your kids care to see him.

All the best,

Doug
Logged

Rich Goodale

Re: Picking a Tour Event to Attend
« Reply #24 on: October 09, 2009, 09:44:59 AM »
Ward

Taken them to the Dunhill Cup in early October.  They get to see some very good players tackling Carnoustie, the Old Course and Kingsbarns, a lot of celebrities, and there will lbe virtually no other spectators to spoil your fun.  When they get tired of that, take them on a road trip to North Berwick or Cruden Bay, or wherever.  They'll never forget it.

Rich
Logged
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
Tags:
Tags:

An Error Has Occurred!

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()
Back