This past weekend I was lucky enough to attend Friday and Sunday at the BMW Championship. This was the first golf tournament I have ever attended and what a unique experience it was.
The Course
Castle Pines is a great mix of beauty and difficulty. It’s the longest course in PGA history and when you are walking around you can 100% notice it. There was plenty of heavy breathing from the gallery trying to keep up with these guys on the course.
It’s different than playing a course like Pinehurst that introduces difficulty with turtle shell greens and impossible bunkers. Castle Pines sits at over 6,000 ft. The high elevation clearly created some headaches for golfers as they had to adjust their distances specifically for this tournament. Plenty of golfers way over/under shot their intended targets in routine situations.
But overall Castle Pines is fantastic and should get more national attention. It’s easily the prettiest course I have ever been to, and features some really unique holes.
Personal favorite was 11. A very steep downhill par 3 that featured some of the prettiest aesthetics of the week. The tee box and green are viewable from just about everywhere you stand along the hole so there is no bad place to watch.
The downhill of the hole created a fun difficulty to watch the golfers navigate. Shots for the most part went either went in the water or were very close to the pin setting up a birdie opportunity.
There was also concession conveniently right behind the hole which came in huge, but that’s just an added bonus.
The experience
Golf tournaments are unlike anything other sporting event I have been to. I’m used to watching these tournaments on TV where the broadcast whips you around the course so you don’t miss a sing shot.
At the actual tournament you have to strategize a little differently. You pretty much either have to commit to following one group around the course or park in at one hole and watch everyone come through.
After trying out both I think the move is to follow and early group you like through the course so you can see everything, then find a hole you like on the back nine and see everyone else get through. This could change, but for now this is my new strategy I will recommend going forward.
On Friday I decided to hold down a spot on the 18th tee box to watch the pros hit some drives. I’m not sure which is more insane: A. how far these guys can crush a golf ball with accuracy, or B. That the PGA lets you get a borderline irresponsible distance away from the golfers.
This is a photo I took at 18. If I wanted to spend the night in the county jail I could have reached out and grabbed Scottie mid swing. It’s great that they do this, it creates an incredible experience. I’m just amazed how much the PGA trust that everyone is going to do the right thing. The golf community just respects the game, and I respect that.
The in person experience is irreplaceable. Getting to actually see these guys compete in person allows you to truly grasp how much better tour players are than the best golfer you know.
The energy the crowd brings for a great shot is incredible. The gallery has favorites, but for the most part people rooting for good golf. As a result the excitement stays and builds the entire weekend.
You unfortunately don’t get the luxury of listening Jim Nantz when you are at the tournament, but seeing a tournament in person is something I would 100% recommend every sports fan does. You don’t even have to like golf to enjoy the tournament, but you will probably be hooked by the time you leave the course.
Also, Rory through his club in the water at one point. I didn’t know where to mention it, so I’m just going to put it here because I found it funny.
Scramble Sports 
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