Ferguson: "Crowd atmosphere can't be overlooked as key factor at majors"

AP's Doug Ferguson does a nice job pointing out the atmospheric differences between Erin Hills and TPC River Highlands, something fans noticed. He agrees with our assessment that getting fans closer to the action makes a difference and should be a vital element to course setup.

He writes:

A big atmosphere comes from energized, enthusiastic fans. And those fans get their energy from being close to the action, feeding off the noise around them. That starts with being able to see golf without having to squint their eyes.

The lack of major atmosphere was evident at Erin Hills.

It was even worse at Chambers Bay, the public course built out of a sand and gravel pit next to the Puget Sound. On one hole, fans were perched high on a ridge and looked like a row of figurines from down below. The par-5 eighth hole at Chambers Bay didn't have any fans at all.

That's the biggest risk the USGA is taking by going to big, new courses.

The U.S. Open returns to traditional courses with a smaller blueprint over the next decade. Even after a soft, calm year, it should not lose its reputation as the toughest test in golf.

Comments

[D. maculata]

Funny how people never notice the obvious until they take one in wallet.

[PABoy]

What makes Merion great, holes that turn, uphill approach shots, tees close to greens which are tucked into corners of the property is what makes the spectating sightlines there challenging. So ironically people were crammed in there like a mob but the energy was awesome, also you could commute via public transit.

Let's bring rhe US Open back to Merion in 2025 and 'Make the US Open Great Again' and celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Ben Hogan's epic win.

[Amen Coroner]

Pa Boy they are looking at the 2026 Am (250th anny of the USA) and the 2030 US Open to commemorate the Jones gland slam. Interlachen will thusly host the US Am in 2030 since its no longer viable for a major. Enjoy the 2022 Curtis Cup!

[Amen Coroner]

PS what made Merion not great:
Could not walk the entire course and follow a group
Could not get to tees at 17 or 18
Could not get to 18 green?
No digital scoreboards
Terrible crowd managemrnt where people were trapped behind ropes unable to cross over to see action
Phil lost

[Greg]

Think about the images that you remember from the most memorable tournaments. Arnie's first win at the Masters, Tom and Jack's epic battle at the 1977 British Open, etc. Regardless of the golfers or venue, there's one constant in all these images - the crowd which lined the fairways and green and heightened the moment's sense of importance. That was totally missing at Erin Hills and Chambers Bay and it left me feeling somewhat empty as I watched those tournaments.

[D. maculata]

You have more confidence in them than I do, Amen. They completely blew the 100th anniversary of Ouimet's U.S. Open win at TCC, a seminal event in golf history. Instead they went with the U.S. Amateur. Really? The only connection is that a hundred years ago, an amateur won the most prestigious event in the country at the same venue. Who was buying that contrived tribute? Pass.

[Amen Coroner]

D Mac,

The R & A are also going to revisit the venues where Jones won the British Am and The Open. Its a coordinated effort they are planning to accomplish. Bobby Jones and his legacy only slightly more relevant today and forever than Ouimet around the world???!!!

[Brandon]

@ D. maculata +1 regarding Ouimet and his win. A critical point in the history of the game in America.

As for the USGA, as I have stated on here countless times, the second they signed the TV deal with Fox they sold their soul and will never regain it. But hey, Fox is really doing a dynamite job helping grow the game with the USGA. While we're young?

[PG]

Merion's 16th green also didn't allow any fans. Aronimink could also host a PGA before another Merion Open http://www.golf.com/tour-news/2017/06/27/time-has-come-restricted-flight-ball-majors

[Zimmer]

The fans can destroy the deep rough by trampling through it.
If the USGA had their way everybody would go to the museum exhibit (for a few minutes), then go to the merch tent, then to the shipping guys. after that some food area, and if they have no access to a corp tent or table, back to the satellite parking lot.
Not joking.

[ed]

If you add-- go sit in a grandstand and watch groups come through one spot through binoculars, i'd have to agree with Zimmer.

USGA has given up the concept of watching golf (and therefore having fans close enough to the action to provide a backdrop for tv) in favor of "the experience" as outlined above.

What baffles me is that Chambers and Erin hills were created with input from the USGA--and yet no concern was shown in the designs for the gallery.

[Zimmer]

ed-
If the USGA could get away with no grandstands, and no on-course spectators, they would.
I'm not sure the Wisconsin spectators had a benchmark to work from, so they didn't know what to expect spectator-wise.

[ol Harv]

Zimmer and Ed, Well said and a perfect description of spectating at the US Open.

[Thinking Out Loud]

Ed, Zimmer and Harv- were you actually at Erin Hills? I was and, quite honestly, found the spectator experience to be very good. Plenty of goid viewing spots and i could follow a group from the first tee to the 18th green. Since I was there I didn't watch so I can't comment on the way it looked on TV but on the ground there was great energy and roars.

[Zimmer]

TOL-
I am glad that you had a great spectator experience.
However, I stand by my opinion re the USGA.
I watched a lot of Erin Hills on TV, and from my POV, the broadcast was excellent. A lot of players were shown and the course looked great.
I miss the blimp profusely. The airplane is a little annoying, and only serves as a scene setter; not as a viable tool like the blimp does.

[Thinking Out Loud]

Zimmer - I think most producers and directors would echo your thoughts on the blimp v the plane. The blimp was a much more effective tool in coverage, especially the ability for the camera person to more easily follow the golf ball. Too bad blimp companies/sponsors have decided to pull the plug on participating in many live sports events

[Thinking Out Loud]

Curious to hear what Doug Ferguson says about the "atmosphere" at the KPMG Women's PGA?