I went to a Pro Golf Tournement and so can You.

Yep, that's right. This week I attended a full and long, yet perfectly beautiful day at the Dell Match Play Golf Tournament in Austin, Texas. The Tournament's setting was at the Austin Country Club. ACC's welcoming and spacious grounds made for a sporty, social and mid-week smile-inducing Thursday! Participating in the Dell Match Play Professional Golf event were the top 64 golfers in the world! No schlubs, just the elite cream of the professional golfer crop. These 64 top golfers represented an impressive variety of countries and cultures worldwide.

Now, I know what your thinking, "George, I've watched Golf on Television and it's boring as heck. It can put me to sleep. What's the joy in watching professional golf?"

Well, my friends, don't allow the television cameras and broadcasts to be your only microscope into life. Especially the naturistic and worthwhile sport known as professional golf. Actually being a permitted, ticket carrying, grounds walking pro golf tourney patron is cool! From my firsthand experience, it's fun, enlightening, unique, walkable and expansive. Some side tents and areas are even a party! The 12th Hole's Grey Goose tent was dealing the Vodka infused Libations! 

Upon entry to the Dell Match Play Tournament instead of being stuck in 1 specific indoor or outdoor seat within a stadium for perpetuity, your ticket grants you free permission to ROAM the entire Golf course and grounds to your heart's content. Any golf course with 18 holes of land, manicured grounds, sandtraps, fairways, ponds, and water features is ample space to witness and let loose. At the end of the day, your feet and legs will be spent, if you did it right.

Personally, for me, my first go-to Dell Match Play viewer destination was the seated grandstand at the first Teebox. Why? Firstly, I was excited to actually get to sit down on a seat. Second, I was able to listen to each Pro Golfer's announced Introduction, followed by each golfer's first drive blast off. The Driver Clubs or Big Metal Stick's these guys use are silverly metallic, large and girthy. During my T-box grandstand time, I was able to witness up-close, the intros and Hole 1 drives of such accomplished golfers as Henrick Stenson, Jason Day, Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods. The Dell Match Play was truly a who's who of the World's current and best professional golfers. It would be easy to get star struck.

 Another reason, why I'd advocate for you our reader, to go and experience a pro golf tournament, is because of the intimate and up close access attendees can kindly and respectfully have in regards to the players and live action. For example, while conversing with my longtime friend on the side grounds of the 1st hole's fairway, a golf ball screamed in the air right behind us into the side crowd to the right of the green. What had happened? Well, Rory McElroy had blasted his T-shot a mile down the fairway and into the concession and beer buying crowd area. This was awesome! Why? Because players have to follow up and stay with their ball, I immediately got as close as possible to the launched golf ball in the right side rough. Eventually, Rory McElroy made it up to his ball for his second shot. We fellow tourney goers were now up close and within 6-12 feet of the live game action and Major Championships winning player. I was instantly on the first row of live competitive golf action. If this had been an NBA basketball game, imagine the absurd and stupid cost of a front row NBA Ticket. Not all fans of sports have first-row celebrity access and money like Spike Lee, Drake, Steve Ballmer and Jack Nicholson to blow. Thus the joy and exuberance of first-hand professional golf fandom is the unique access and tangibility of the round playing players within the actual competitive tournament experience.

In case you were wondering, in so far as the ratio folks, as you would presume it's roughly an 8 to 2 guy to girl ratio. 7 to 3 at best. It's a sausage-heavy group. But, there are enough cute, happy, and pretty, hottie girl tourney goers walking around to keep your eyes and head upright.

Here's another reason why I think you should get off the television watching couch and go witness a professional golf tournament in person. Your fellow ticket patrons are boozing it up, socializing, grabbing fresh air and sunlight, chatting it up, and having fun! The walking grounds of a professional tournament have a fraternizing social vibe. Strangers become friends. Friends become better friends. Questions are relayed and comments are heard amongst the viewing patronage. In my opinion, the Dell Match Play visitor experience had a communal and friendly vibe. Are all pro golf tournaments this easy going? I'd bet so. For example, I recall discussing the "belly putter" and new "pin in the Hole" rules with some fellow Dell Match Play fans. The networking friendly, sports fan and overall well-to-do, happy go lucky mindset of the golf tournament attendee is evident and true.

Here's another reason why I think you should go and attend a Professional Golf Tournament. The Professional golfers will hit the most awe-inspiring and amazing shots right in front of your face to witness. Next up, they'll smack a fairway shot right into the water or sand, and remind you they are human just like you. That's right, on my watch, the Top 64 golfers in the world would hit perfectly arched monster drives and approach shots, yet dork short putts and land their golf balls in the lake, just like the average Joe.

So now that I've unloaded on all the professional golf tournament uniqueness and fun, here are some of my personal tips for when it is your turn. Remember to wear comfortable shoes. On my $165 dollar ticket Thursday I arrived at the course at an early 10 am. Then walked, and sat, witnessed a hole, walked and viewed, and drank a beer, and walked, and saw some shots and drank a beer, and talked to a friend, and then talked to another friend until it was almost 5 o'clock. Thus, be prepared to wear comfortable shoes and be comfortable walking on your feet for over 6 hours. I was wearing my Native branded shoes, so I was fine. Next tip, wear a hat and bring sunscreen. If the beautiful weather you hope and dream for actually arrives, a hat and sunscreen will pleasantly protect your skin from it. Sunglasses are your personal preference decision. My last tip is to use the restroom when you can actually locate one. Sometimes the makeshift port-o-potties are hard to find and post 7 dollars Zeigenbock tall boy beer, eventually, you'll need to relieve and empty yourself.

Thanks for reading, now go experience the Professional Golf Tournament experience yourself. I say go at least once, twice or as many times as you want. Pro Golf in real life, amongst the cameras, cart driving broadcasters, invigorating patrons, boozy attendees, and talented golfers is an entirely different sporting experience worth experiencing.