Trouble is brewing with spectators

CADDIE'S ROLEIT IS hard to beat live entertainment for atmosphere, excitement and sense of occasion. This is particularly true when it comes to live sports and especially when it is an annual event with a coveted title on offer.

The 108th US Open at the public course of Torrey Pines outside San Diego, California, last week was one of these live occasions that seems to get the crowd brimming with enthusiasm - and that's only in the practice rounds. When it comes to the event proper on Thursday the throng seems primed for a showdown which can only be responded to with a whole lot of noise and not too much sense.

Organisations have been very successful at promoting their particular form of entertainment in recent years; from the popularisation of classical music to the inclusive nature of spectating at rugby matches, the range of accessible events to attend has increased dramatically. This is particularly true of some pro golf events which have been branded as a "must see".

The US Open last week was a sell-out. You got to pay $100 (€65) for a daily ticket and for that you had to endure a 15-mile bus ride to the course from the designated public car-park.

There was a huge and well run merchandising marquee which sold the exclusive brand of the USGA's US Open, there were plenty of food and drink outlets and an abundance of corporate hospitality tents for those companies who have not had their entertainment budget curtailed by the economic climate.

Visiting the US Open set on the Torrey Pines bluff, overlooking the Pacific Ocean is a wonderful, sociable way to spend a day and you get to watch the world's best competing on the toughest stage.

We (Retief Goosen) were drawn to play with Pádraig Harrington in the third round last Saturday and as we strode down the deeply-lined first fairway there were yelps of anything from "Get up, ya boy ya" to "Go on Paudie, ya good thing". It is not enough to be there at a major event, it's seemingly important for the less restrained in the crowd to make sure you hear they are there.

It's all a bit of harmless participation in a sport that has traditionally been rather staid and given to the polite encouragement of "good shot" and not the wanton hooting and hollering which presides at the modern golf event.

I suppose if you have paid $100 and endured a 15-mile bus ride you might be ready to participate in your own way. The trouble is the decorum that has been as traditional in the game as the snap-hook off the first tee is being eroded very quickly at big events in the US. I cannot decide if it is simply the attitude of having paid handsomely, physically and financially, to get there and "I am going to shout about it", or the modern golf spectator thinks it's like football or baseball where hooting and hollering is encouraged and expected.

The levels of crowd enthusiasm can be measured throughout the day and often they deteriorate from "good shot" in the early morning to "I told you it was two feet outside the right, are you deaf?" in the early afternoon to a slurred "I knew you were going to three-putt that ha, ha, ha" as the afternoon shadows lengthen.

In a sport like golf where the fans get very close to the action and players pass through the spectator domain frequently there is more chance of crowd/player interaction, so it is impossible to isolate the golfer from the fan. I get the impression there is both a sense of awe about the talent of these top golfers and then perhaps a feeling of resentment when they realise how much they get paid.

There is definitely a growing air of hostility creeping over the spectator ropes which is adding an unnecessary tension to a traditionally pleasant environment.

There was an incident last Friday involving Adam Scott's caddie, Tony Navarro. Tony is hugely experienced and always polite but somehow ended up in a brawl with a spectator. The caddie had asked the spectator to be quiet, not for his own player but for another group who were teeing off on an adjacent tee. The response Navarro got was enough to make him jump the rope and confront the spectator. Punches were thrown but not landed and eventually security arrested the offending spectator on suspicion of being drunk in public.

It seems there are a number of issues the authorities could tackle in order to curtail the increasingly aggressive and intrusive behaviour of the modern golf spectator in America. While police officers follow each group to ensure the players' safety, perhaps a behavioural adviser would be more useful.

The main problem seems to be the vast golfing public are not well versed in basic golf etiquette. Applauding and getting excited about good shots is welcome, inane, inappropriate remarks are not. A short list of appropriate behaviour issued as the spectators board the bus for their 15-mile shuttle to the course might give them time to reflect on their conduct.

Of course the level of abuse increases as the day goes on, which would suggest the drink sales and the inappropriate comments are directly linked. The US Open is a wonderful event with over a century of strong tradition behind it. If the event wants to maintain its image of integrity maybe it is time for the USGA to think about how their cocktail sales are affecting the very fabric of the game whose morals they uphold.