Jack's big week
tips for surviving & thriving at the Memorial
By Colin Perkins |
|
There's an old urban legend which claims that Columbus icon and PGA legend Jack Nicklaus built the world-famous Muirfield Village Golf Club upon sacred Native American tribal lands. In retribution, the yarn warns, each year Chief Leatherlips personally takes it upon himself to shower down rain by the buckets upon the Muirfield event that old Jack holds so near and dear - the Memorial Tournament.
This has to be without a doubt one of the saddest and most pathetic curses a spirit has ever wasted its time on. But, many Memorial weeks since it's inception in 1976 have been marred by rain stoppages and the difficult course conditions they cause. So, there just may be something to it.
Either way, curse or no, every Columbus native should experience the Memorial at least once. Even if you're not a golf fan, the week-long event offers more than just the world's premiere linksmen showcasing their craft. It offers fantastic people watching and the opportunity to spend the afternoon on one of the most pristine and well-maintained chunks of sod the city has to offer. And if the curse has you concerned, there's really no need to worry. You are allowed to bring an umbrella - just not much else.
Tickets
Patrons planning on attending multiple days will get the most value out of their Memorial admissions badges. Picking up a Weekly Patron Badge for $155.00 secures you golf course grounds admission for each of the competition's four rounds, as well as practice for rounds from Monday - Wednesday.
If you require more of a VIP experience you can instead opt for the $235 Weekly Clubhouse Badge - which allows you to stroll into the course clubhouse and party like Judge Smails at Bushwood.
Three-Day Practice Round Tickets are also available for $30, plus corporations and large groups attending together can take advantage of four package levels, each with an increasingly swanky name:
As an added enticement to families, children under 12-years of age get free grounds admission to all seven days of action - as long as they are accompanied by an adult patron.
Tickets can be purchased at www.thememorialtourament.com or by calling (877) MT-Badge or (614) 889-6712. (Only practice round tickets will be sold at the gate - and only cash is accepted.)
Nicklaus Patron Package
2 Clubhouse & 4 Patron Badges
Price: $1000 ($1090 Value)
Gold Patron Package
4 Clubhouse & 10 Patron Badges
Price: $2000 ($2490 Value)
Muirfield Patron Package
6 Clubhouse & 20 Patron Badges
Price: $3400 ($4510 Value)
Memorial Patron Package
20 Clubhouse & 40 Patron Badges
Price: $7500 ($10900 Value)
Parking & Entrance Policies
Free parking is available to all on a first come, first served basis. The best bets for finding an open spot are to proceed to Muirfield Drive or Carnoustie Drive, where officials will be on-hand to direct.
Gates open each day at 7:00 a.m.
Those new to golf might be taken aback by some of the items restricted from entering the course. For many attendees, this presents an opportunity to play everyone's favorite game: Where On My Body Can I Hide My Cell Phone? These, as well as a number of other common devices, are strictly forbidden from the course and will be confiscated by a tournament official if spotted, so bring them in at your own risk.
The complete list of prohibited items - which runs from obvious (weapons) to hilarious (Segways) - is as follows:
- Cellular Phones
- Still Cameras (Permitted during practice rounds)
- Video Equipment
- TVs and Radio
- Folding Armchairs
- Canvas Chair Bags
- Camera/Binocular Cases
- Backpacks/Large Purses
- Periscopes
- Coolers
- Signs
- Beepers
- Weapons
- Ladders
- Pets/Animals
- Picnic Baskets
- Segways
- Please Note: Strollers are permitted on the course.
Act Like You Were Raised with Some Manners
Golf Etiquette & Viewing Strategy
Visitors to the tournament are expected to adhere to a specific set of rules. Spectators are to remain quiet during play and at all times when quiet signs are displayed. Don't request autographs of players on the course. Spectators must also stay within the permissible roped off areas and follow the totally reasonable request that they refrain from "Making rude, vulgar, or other inappropriate comments or gestures toward a player." In other words, let's conduct ourselves as ladies and gentleman - at least until you leave.
Your viewing strategy will dictate your clothing strategy. Every viewer must decide whether they'd like to show up with their no-armed folding chair and hunker down at one hole for the day. This way you see the most players play - but without a lot of variety. Other patrons choose a favorite player (typically Tiger, Phil, or Sergio) and stalk them all day - scurrying and fighting for position on each hole. Still others wander aimlessly.
If you plan on being mobile, comfortable shoes are non-negotiable - you'll be walking a lot and taking on some pretty daunting hills. Roamers will find a wealth of viewing options in the area around the 18th green, the tee boxes numbers 1 & 10.
If you plan to plant your flag in a spot and vigorously defend it all day, the 12th hole is a particularly enticing option. The 184-yard par three is the shortest hole on the course - meaning you can view the hole from start to finish without moving a muscle. The hole packs more than its share of excitement, as players must work from an elevated tee, carrying just long enough to clear the ominous pond that has claimed many Titleists over the years.
No matter which way you go, suggested attire includes wind breakers, hats, sunglasses, and that aforementioned umbrella you're going to cherish so much. In other words, there is always the one guy that shows up in basketball shorts. Your job is to not be him.
Player Involvement
This year's tournament has already received player commitments from Kenny Perry, the defending Memorial Champion and recent runner-up at the Masters, as well as 2008 PGA Tour Player of the Year Padraig Harrington. As is the case ever year, all eyes will remain on Tiger and other fan favorites throughout the month of May in anticipation of their commitments. For an updated list of players for this year's tournament, visit www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r023.
No Memorial is complete without it
If you're not attending this year's tournament - or you are and just know you'll need to wind down after hours of substituting restrained "golf claps" for banshee-like screams - plan to spend time at the Bogey Inn. The famous landmark restaurant and bar, located at 6013 Glick Rd. in Powell, offers an ideal way to tie one on with friends, and meet new friends - and, sometimes, even the players. From the great food and drinks to the variety of entertaining options out back (Leatherlips, don't you dare ruin our sand volleyball game), the Bogey serves up something for everyone. Although it's faced uncertain times lately, it is still open for special events - and at the Bogey Inn, there isn't one more special than Jack's tournament.
Originally Published: May 1, 2009
