Cheer hard, respect harder. Team golf doesn’t need to sound like a bar fight.
On any given Sunday, golf will humble anyone—even the best in the world. That’s part of the magic: skill, nerve, and respect for the shot. Which is why it grates when a tiny minority of American fans act like they’re at a cage match, not a world-class event. A friendly rivalry morphs into “War by the Shore,” and suddenly applauding a great European shot gets you side-eye—or worse—from a drunk nearby. That’s not patriotism; it’s bush-league.
I’ve worked TV golf as a spotter for 20+ years. I’ve seen the whole spectrum. And yes, my home base (Scottsdale, Arizona) hosts the Waste Management Phoenix Open—“the greatest show on grass.” I call it “the greatest show with no class.” Why? Because massive crowds, perfect February weather, and free-flowing booze invite a lot of people who aren’t there for golf. Watch the antics on the 16th at TPC Scottsdale and you’ll get the idea why a few of us locals don’t even attend any more.
Phoenix is tailor-made for winter pilgrims fleeing the cold: Troon North, Grayhawk, TPC Scottsdale—desert target golf with saguaros, ocotillo, boulders, the works. It’s gorgeous. It also draws huge social crowds who “come to be seen,” crank the volume, and—after a few—forget that players are actually working. Security has tossed armed spectators. Tiger once skipped the event over safety concerns. None of that should surprise anyone who’s watched Ryder Cup low points: alcohol + entitlement + tribal cheering = abuse, sometimes even at players’ families. Rory dropping F-bombs? Hard to blame him in the heat of that garbage.
The fix isn’t to make golf church-quiet. The fix is to draw a hard line between loud and low. How about this for a world-class controversial suggestion: ban alcohol at PGA Tour events. Leave it home with your cell phone.
The Line: Loud vs. Low
- Loud = OK. Roar after impact. Sing, chant, wave flags, paint your face.
- Low = Gone. Talking in the routine, yelling during the swing, personal insults, in-play gambling shouts (“miss it!”), harassment of spouses/family.
Cheer the shot, not the person. You can root for the USA and still clap a dart from Rory. That’s not treason; it’s golf.
Why This Keeps Happening (and Not Just at Ryder Cups)
- Alcohol + time. Four hours in the sun turns enthusiasm into idiocy.
- Tribal theater. Team formats flip the fan switch from “appreciate” to “dominate.”
- Stadium holes. Great TV, terrible judgment when the crowd forgets the rules.
- Social media dares. People perform for cameras now. Bad behavior goes viral; others chase it.
Borrow This from College Football
Home/Away Fan Zones.
Create visibly marked home and away grandstands near tee/green complexes. You’re free to cheer your team without getting hassled for clapping the other side. Neutral zones elsewhere for mixed groups.
A Simple Fan Code (Post it big at entries & tees)
- Silence from address to impact.
- No personal stuff. Target the shot, not the family or nationality.
- No in-swing gambling shouts. Save it for after the stroke.
- Two warnings, then out. Visible yellow/red cards from marshals.
- Alcohol throttle. Last-two-hours sale pause on hot days or when behavior slips.
Print it, post it, and enforce it. A code no one enforces is a suggestion, not a standard.
What Tours & Hosts Can Do Tomorrow
- Marshal authority that’s visible. Give marshals paddle cards (YELLOW/RED). Let TV show ejections so the public sees consequences.
- Timing windows. MC prompts: “Quiet please—play underway.” Green light boards after impact so casual fans know when to erupt.
- Section stewards. One trained lead per grandstand with radio to security.
- Alcohol pacing. Wristband scans; cap purchases per hour; pause sales late.
- Family corridors. Marked paths and viewing zones where heckling = automatic ejection.
Dear American Fans (from a fellow American)
Be passionate. Be creative. Bring the signs and the chants. But earn the right to call it “our game” by respecting everyone who plays it well—ours and theirs. If a European sticks a 6-iron to two feet, clap. If a U.S. player drains a 30-footer, go ballistic. That balance is exactly what makes the Ryder Cup the best theater in golf.