Capelle On Golf

The other day I wrote that I contact the big organizations with suggestions in the hopes that they will one day implement changes for the betterment of the sport. Then a post came from someone named Porter who was wondering what were some of my issues. I responded with a few ideas.

This got me to thinking about something that bugs me about tournament golf. If you’ve attended a PGA Tour event and walked the course while trying to watch a popular superstar, perhaps you can relate.

Spectating at a golf tournament is one of the toughest assignments in sports. When you are following a super popular player from hole to hole you’ve got to think ahead, plan your strategy, and be willing to sacrifice certain shots to see others. And it helps if you are in great condition because top flight spectating is an endurance sport where the ability to walk fast for hours is a valuable asset.

Let’s assume you’re out on the course and you’ve done your job to perfection. You’re in perfect position to see Tiger putt. And then up sidles one of the most spirited, giving, gracious and, sadly, annoying people in all of golf – let’s call him the quiet marshal. He stands a few in front of you directly in your line to Tiger and, a few moments before he putts, holds his arms up in the air.

His posturing is meant to quiet the crowd before Tiger executes his shot. It’s like the marshal’s the only one watching who knows when the player is at the end of his preshot routine and is about to play his shot. But such is not the case, for golf fans have their preshot routines just like the players and the marshal. They watch Tiger circle a putt and go through his routine. And once he stands up to a putt, they know to automatically lower their volume below a whisper. And they know to do this without having to look at a marshal because it’s just part of knowing how to be a spectator. Furthermore, since most in the gallery are golfers, they are in the habit of being still when someone else is playing a shot.

Since the crowd knows what to do, is the quiet marshal’s job really unnecessary? They get in the spectators way which, as I said, is extremely annoying after Joe or Jane fan has worked so hard to secure a great view.

Besides, it’s cruel and unusual punishment for the marshal. Here he stands with no spectators between him and the player, in position for a great view. He could squat on one knee and enjoy the best seat in the house. But his job calls for him to turn his back on the action, miss watching the best players in the world, block the spectators view, and then listen for the applause for something he never gets to see.

Surely there must be a far nobler cause for these upstanding citizens of our great game.