Is the recent Ryder Cup evidence of golf attracting a different crowd?

The Ryder Cup is one of the most famous golfing competitions that sees the best European golfers taking on America’s best. The tournament is renowned for drawing crowds wanting to see their favourite players battle it out for the trophy. This year however, things took a different turn, which took spectators, players and television viewers by surprise.

A changing crowd

This year the tournament was held at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota, and had quite an eclectic crowd - a type of crowd that hasn’t generally been seen before at a golfing game.

Some audience members were very vocal, shouting once the American players had hit the ball to “get in the hole!”. They also boo’ed the European players when they played a good shot, and as Rory McIlroy found out when taking a backswing, started calling out to him, making him mess up his shot. However, on this particular incident, the rest of the crowd turned round and pointed at the man who was heckling, so security could deal with him.

This sort of behaviour isn’t something that is normally seen within this sport; football yes, but golf no, and one of the many reasons why golf is loved by so many is because it doesn’t have the brash, vocal competitiveness of other sports.

Fans have also been urged by European players not to retaliate at the next Ryder Cup in 2018, ‘as that is not who they are’, according to Rory McIlroy. He also stated that the team want to play the game in the manner it should be played.

So what could be the reason behind it?

Well, as Rory McIlroy explained, some games tee’d off at 7.30am and there were people in the galleries already drinking beer. Considering the last games weren’t until 4.30pm, those that had chosen to start drinking earlier on may have been feeling it by the later rounds, potentially causing this rowdier approach.

On the other hand, does golf need to address the way it attracts a new audience? For example, golf is generally seen as a middle class, gentleman’s sport, so is a new, younger crowd necessarily a bad thing for the longevity of the game? Take cricket for instance; they implemented T20 matches that have music blaring, fireworks and a real buzz amongst the spectators, something that isn’t seen at traditional cricket matches, allowing fans to experience either end of the spectrum - whichever they prefer.

Could something along those lines work in golf? To set up a separate tournament where spectators can be allowed to make more noise and express their so called encouragement? Whatever happens, it’s definitely an exciting time to be a fan of the sport.