There’s No Place Like Home

Two years ago, Minnesotans put on one whale of a party when Hazeltine National Golf Club hosted the bi-annual Ryder Cup Matches.

Like just about everyone else in the Twin Cities, I found myself attending the matches in person multiple days. If you’ve never had the pleasure of attending a Ryder Cup, it is extremely difficult to express the atmosphere and emotions on-site but, safe to say, they are palpable.

Every putt holed, every stuck approach shot or monster drive sent the crowd into a fever pitch. Even with the few notable exceptions, (we should still be apologizing for some of the comments), the crowds for the most part were boisterous but respectful. I was fortunate enough to be with a mixed bunch of fans. Having both Europeans and Americans taking in the matches together made the experience even better.

A little light ribbing and good nature fun was par for the course and at the end of the matches, we all reflected on the great time we had.

Now it’s two years later and the matched are being held in Paris, France at Le Golf National and while I do know a few people that will be attending, I, like most, have to go back to watching it on TV.

This got me thinking about which way of viewing the matches is better.

Of course, this is all personal perspective but, as I see it, there are pros and cons for both.

When attending the matches in person, you certainly sense the excitement but honestly, it’s difficult to watch most of the matches. Since there are so few players on the course at any given time, the crowds following are much larger than those at a regular TOUR event. In order to follow any one particular match, you needed to skip ahead a few holes so you could stake out your vantage point.

The other option to get the most out of the viewing experience was to find a hole and wait. My friends and I tried both options. On the third day, the choice for us was clear, find a spot in one of the stands and wait. Fortunately, organizers were wise enough to equip those holes with giant screens that would broadcast action from other parts of the course so those of us in the stands knew where the matches stood.

Being on the grounds the moment the Cup was won by the Americans is an experience I will never forget. I’ve been to numerous sporting events where the decibel levels rival that of a jet airplane. Most of those are either inside or at least in a bowl-like stadium that captures the noise. This was a GOLF COURSE! A wide-open pasture with rolling hills and tons of acreage and the sound was deafening. I’ve been around golf for almost 46 years and I have never… ever… heard anything so loud (I even attended a Twins World Series win in the Metrodome and it was not this loud). It was so loud that my wife and neighbors could hear the chants clearly and we live a quarter mile from the course.

THAT was an experience!

On the other hand, watching the matches on TV has some advantages too.

First (and perhaps most important), you get to see more of the matches as they take place. The coverage is so extensive that viewers not only know who’s winning, but perhaps even what the players had for lunch. If one match is getting out of hand and another is close, you don’t have to sprint to the far side of the grounds to find the action. Golf Channel and NBC will gladly take you to where the action is more compelling.

Second, I get to watch on my schedule. When we attended in person, to get that prized spot in the stands on 13, we needed to be at the course before the gates opened. Then it was a mad dash to the spot we had selected the day before. On TV however, there is a handy new invention called a DVR. If you’re really up to date technologically, your streaming service lets you set and record programs. The ability to sleep in and still catch the opening ceremonies is priceless.

Third, the food and beverage costs are slightly more reasonable at home. OK… so I’m underselling this one a bit. While the concessions stands were plentiful (we had one directly under the stands we were stationed at… which was convenient to say the least), having a captive audience allows vendors to “maximize their profits” if you will.

Watching from home allows me to not only stay on budget, but also set the menu. Getting up whenever I want and raiding my refrigerator for the bounty I got at Cub in preparation has a nice sound to it. Additionally, with that new-fangled DVR thing, I can pause the live action when I adjourn to the kitchen and not miss a second of the action.

Finally, and I am not selling this one short at all, NO LINES AT THE BATHROOM! Since my oldest daughter left for college this fall, we only have three people living at our house at the moment. We have three bathrooms in the house, so unless we have friends over, I like the bathroom to occupant ratio much better than the cattle call that is waiting for a Biffy.

If you still want the experience of taking in the matches with a bunch of friends, there is always the option of heading to your local Pub. Just remember the bathroom to occupant ratio when deciding if going out is better than staying in.

If you ever do get the chance to view the Matches in person, don’t pass it up. You will not regret some of the hassles for what might be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Perhaps I am just getting old, but as I look at it, I’ve had my chance to attend in person and I prefer to take in the Matches from the comfort of my couch. I like controlling the viewing times, the menu, the prices and the bathroom breaks… that is of course, if I can get the TV remote from my other daughter.