I should start by saying this post is not to get political about whether or not you or I agree with LIV. I am also not writing this post to compare it to a PGA event (I've also never been able to attend a PGA event, so I couldn't compare if I wanted to). I am also not writing to debate if you agree with the new PGA/LIV merge. I am writing to simply share my recent experience at the LIV Golf event in Tulsa.
If you read my first sports post, you know I had nothing to do with golf before dating my husband. Over the last 4.5 years, I've grown to enjoy the game. Through watching events with him (and the "Full Swing" docuseries on Netflix), I got to know about different players, so when my husband said he wanted to attend the Tulsa LIV golf event--I jumped at the opportunity to join.
Since we drove up Saturday morning for the round, I was very happy about the shotgun start at noon. This basically means all players are set up at a hole and whenever it's time to play, they all start at the same time. Although we were supposed to leave at 9, we left around 10 because someone did not want to get out of bed (and that someone wasn't me).
We were already running right on time when we showed up to the parking lot and were told we had to park 20 minutes away at ORU then take the shuttle to the entrance. So, due to a little detour...we were late-late. To the credit of the event coordinators, the parking, security and shuttles were very well organized.
Once we entered, you immediately hear the music. Upon entering, there's a large concert stage, two bar buildings, merchandise store, big screens and the VIP set-ups. It definitely radiates a fan, party-fun experience vibe. We immediately started toward the course to get our bearings of the hole numbers, also to figure out which hole Abraham Ancer was on (Chad's former college roommate).
While walking through the course, there were several concession and bar stands. Not to mention they also had cart girls bringing around alcohol and merchandise. Also, there was a family fun area with golf simulators, corn-hole, a football throwing game, ball pit, face painting, food trucks and much more. I really liked the commitment to fan-experience and/or fans with children. Each hole had speakers that played music off the tee boxes, which I thought was fun. They did ask fans to be quiet while the players were teeing off or putting, but most people did that anyway. Additionally, as an added touch, houses along the course were having large parties with DJs or bands playing during the event. I liked that the event was able to be treated like other sporting events with pregames and watch parties rather than quiet libraries. We even got into a house party one of the days, which was a fun 40 minute break.
Although the first day we were just winging it by going hole to hole to see who was playing. The second day, what Chad and I found to be "the move," was to stay at one tee box for awhile as the golfers made their way to and from that hole. For example, whenever we arrived on Sunday, the first hole we went to was hole three. Abe Ancer started here, then after him the next three groups had Brooks Koepka, then Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith, then Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson. So, it was a hoppin' place to be for about an hour. We were able to get right next to the rope on the tee boxes which allowed for up-close and personal encounters with the players. I mean it when I say I could've easily reached out and touched them, but that would be weird and inappropriate so I obviously didn't. That type of access at any sporting event is incredible, especially when you're as small as me and have a hard time seeing over people.
Although we were late on Saturday, on Sunday, we were there early; therefore, we were able to watch the athletes warm-up on the range and putting green (once again, music was poppin'). We also got to watch the intro videos and see Navy Seal teams dive from an airplane onto the course, which was pretty neat and reminded me of the openings of several football games.
Since it was Mother's Day, they offered massages, desserts and a flower for all moms outside hole 18. I'm not a mom but definitely could've used the massage. They replaced many signs in the tournament to honor Mother's Day, which I thought was a nice touch. We once again enjoyed watching the athletes make their way around the course, until...rain delay. That's right, a good ole Oklahoma spring storm decided to come through. Everyone was ushered off the course and had to make their way back to the shuttles to return the viewers back to their cars. Luckily for Chad and I, we had dry clothes in our luggage to change into then found a public parking lot close by to walk to the course once play resumed.
Going into the last hole, Dustin Johnson was down by one shot to Cameron Smith and Brandon Grace; and we got to see him tee-off the 18th from the best seat in the house. The crowd anxiously gathered around hole 18, and it was such a fun experience. The deafening silence followed by the roar of celebration. With everyone watching DJ birdied the hole to send him to a playoff. Ultimately, Johnson won the tournament; which was his first win this year and second LIV win overall. It was all very exciting!
Although it's loud and many people call it "gimmicky" or "too relaxed,"I think that is what makes it appealing to some. I feel like I saw several people there who probably would not have ever gone to a golf event before; and five years ago, I would have been that person. I would've been drawn more to the music, drinks, and atmosphere than the players and the game. By appealing to "outsiders," maybe their golf interest will grow or even just the golf market.
Overall, I had a really great weekend at the LIV event. I will say my favorite part of the event was how close we were able to get to the athletes and game. It truly felt like I was a part of the experience.
So, what is the future of golf? Only time will tell.
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