The only New England stop for a PGA event takes place at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT every summer. As a writer for Golfing Magazine, there are many perks to the job, and one of them is getting media credentials for certain events. I attended this tournament last year, but I went as a golf fanatic. I was starstruck and giddy the whole time. I did not approach it like a media member or journalist. This year, I went back and approached it with a plan to utilize my media pass. I’m not writing this article to brag or show off, but to share my experiences both in front of and behind the ropes at a PGA event.
The first thing I noticed was how pampered the players are. This is with good reason because they are the best in the world at this sport we love, and they generate wealth for themselves and many others. The sport of golf requires focus, repetition, and expensive equipment. The pros at the Travelers have these things down to a science. To start, they get a police escort in their tinted-out SUVs to the course, cutting through traffic. I didn’t go in the clubhouse, but I’m sure it’s top-notch, and they have access to on-site trainers and simulators. Their experience on the driving range is just a bit different from ours. I’ll get into this more when my virtual tour stops on the other side of that rope.
My experience wasn’t as lavish as the pros’, but I did get some perks that general admission doesn’t see. After I parked in the media lot, they gave me a private golf cart ride to the media center. This is the hub for all of the media and journalists covering the tournament. I was given a lanyard and a pass with my name and picture on it. This gave me access to the media center and the driving range.
The media center has workstations with charging ports, comfortable chairs, and huge TVs showing the broadcast of the golfers just outside the doors. It has snacks, drinks, notepads, pens, tee sheets, and greens maps. There is a food tent next door that has breakfast and lunch with freshly made food and plenty of cold beverages for a hot summer day.
My day started when I left the media center and headed for the first tee, and to my surprise, I got to see Rickie Fowler getting dropped off with his caddie to tee off. I watched him get a huge applause in his typical bright orange outfit, then followed him for a few holes. When I came to this tournament last year, I saw the 9th hole and the 1st tee, and that was it. Again, I was awestruck and a fan with some extra perks, so I didn’t even enjoy the whole experience. This time I wanted to see the whole course…it didn’t happen, but I still got a better overall experience.
I walked the rest of the front 9. I saw Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele paired up, then I sat in the bleachers on the par-3 8th hole, which has a pond in front of it. I saw Jason Day stick his shot to 10′ but miss, then his partner Harry Hall put it to 8′ and sank the birdie. I then watched Xander and Finau tee off on 9 with a huge gallery behind them. After I walked along the ropes of the fairway, I turned left to the other area my pass could get me into.
My media pass gave me access to the driving range, and this is where I spent all of my time last year as a fan, admiring the players. This time I was going to enjoy the range but also limit my time. After I showed my badge with area 2 listed on it and walked by security, I strolled down to the exact spot where the players warmed up for the round. The 1-inch rope separating the range from the crowd is like the Grand Canyon when it comes to the thrill you feel. I could literally walk right up to the hitting areas, stand side-by-side with the players and caddies, and I had most of the same amenities that they did. There is a putting green, hitting area, and chipping green, and I was able to walk around to each one to watch them hit but also listen to conversations. There were players and caddies, but also TV personalities like Kevin Kisner, Colt Knost, and Brad Faxon. There were also members of the PGA management team, and I’m sure bigwig sponsors and guests from Travelers.
The players have their routines, but most start on the putting green, then hit shots, then finish on the chipping green before being driven to the 1st tee. This is where the real fandom and envy set in for a golfer in the crowd. These guys have personal shot trackers, every swing/putting tool, brand-new gloves, their preferred brand of practice balls, and basically anything else they ask for. I was jealous of the service they received but also realized they deserve it for how good they play the sport. The other thing that stood out to me was how unbelievably good they are. Being ten feet away and seeing them stripe every shot is mesmerizing. They don’t mess up like we do. Every shot is flushed and goes on a line to the target. This was for every club, every swing; they just rinse and repeat, and it is surreal to see it up close.
I saw JT, Morikawa, Si Woo, Wyndham, Bhatia, Cantlay, Hovland, and Scheffler, among others. The players smile and nod but don’t really interact with the fans, both inside and outside the ropes. I know they were getting ready for the final round of a tournament with a huge purse, but it would have been cool to see them engage a little with the crowd. Two other ‘kids’ (probably in their 20s) were next to me, and they tried to fist bump several players, but all they got was a head nod in return. I’m sure at other events it may be different, but it was also a sign of how they get locked in before a round, and maybe something I can do when playing in a competitive golf match.
After the driving range, I headed to the merchadise tent to get something for myself and my wife. This place was madness. There were hundreds of people criss-crossing and grabbing clothes, and checking price tags. The line to get a hat was twenty people deep, and on the final day of the event, a bunch of the clothing racks were bare. I found a couple of Traveler’s hoodies for my wife and me, then quickly made my escape. I asked the cashier what the biggest purchase he saw this week was, and he said over $1000, but the Majors get much bigger checkouts.
Once I was clear of the merchandise tent, I headed back towards the front 9. Scottie and Hovland were the final group, and I wanted to follow them. The first tee was packed, so I moved over to the third hole to get a head start. The crowd was lively and was showing support for all of the players in the final few groups. Bhatia had a huge following and was just ahead, so I stayed with him for a few holes. I could tell the crowd was into it because whenever a player hit a great shot, they roared, but conversely, if they hit a bad shot, they all moaned in disappointment. I can’t imagine playing in front of that many people and hearing them all sigh and confirm that you did, in fact, hit a bad shot. The pressure these players must feel is not fully felt through the TV screen. Another thing you don’t see on TV is the work done by the broadcasting crew.
There are on-course reporters that you see on TV, but they also have crews with them, and they all do work between every shot. The lead commentator will go up to the tee shot in the fairway or rough and examine it. They stand over it as if they are about to hit to see what kind of lie it has, the stance allowed, and the distances to cover on the next shot. The cameramen are flanked by crew with portable power and wifi backpacks. Another thing you don’t see on TV is the amount of technology spread out around the course. There are extension cords, cables, microphones, and cameras everywhere, and if they aren’t permanently set in place, then someone is carrying them to some unknown destination.
The crowd was lively, and it was a mixed bag of people. There were people of all ages, from young kids to people playing on the senior tees. There were families, but also people smoking cigars, people drinking heavily, and other people who looked like they could run a marathon. I saw a lot of people dressed like they had a tee time, and others were practicing their swings as if the players were going to give them free advice on the spot. I heard conversations about real estate, the players’ shoe sizes, and a lot of gambling talk.
I had a much more enjoyable time this year, and feel that I took advantage of my media pass, but also experienced it as a golf fan. The Travelers is a great way to see the best players in the world at a magnificent golf course and have a great overall experience on the grounds.
