This is gonna be a thing.

Went out to Medinah yesterday afternoon to snap a few photos and check out the course set-up before all hell breaks loose. Officials said they are expecting upwards of 40,000 people a day, including practice rounds. Course looks to be in amazing shape and the atmosphere should be impressive.

And where are your pictures?

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Maybe the Ligues can head out and attack a European.

Welcome them to Chicago the right way.

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Nice, and thanks for posting. I was down there for the Open and would love to be there this week. Looking forward to watching this on the weekend.

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2018
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10 More Wins

I just realized the other day (because of the signs, ) that I drive past Medinah every day on the way to and from work (when I take Lake St off of the 290/355 exit.) I should avoid this way on Thursday and Friday, huh?

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With the practice rounds, you should avoid it starting today. Depending on what time you start work, you might be ok in the mornings but I would avoid the area at all costs on the commute home.

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Talk about an azure sky...that shit looks so gorgeous I'd think it's shopped if I didn't know better...

I just turned down a chance to go on Friday.



I have days off the last 2 weeks and didn't think I should go to my boss and ask for this Friday off also.

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

I will be there Friday if anybody wants to hook up for a cold one or some wagers , PM me.

Perfect day to take photos.

I'm going friday and sunday. Never been to a golf event before so I'm a little worried about doing it right.

Does anyone have any tips for getting the most out of the on site viewing experience? Should I pick one hole and stay there? Should I pick one group and just follow that group? Should I bring a portable chair? Should I bring binoculars?\


Also, looking at the schedule it appears the first group goes out at 7am. Is it standard to show up for the first tee time or do most people stroll in fashionably late around 9am or later?

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I think everyone subscribes to a different school of thought on this. I have never been to a Ryder Cup so because of
the smaller field it may not make as much sense to just camp out in one spot. It is good to do since you will see everyone
in the field but may not see all of the course. If you do camp you may want to get there early, find a spot early in the
front nine, watch everyone go through and then find a spot on the back and do the same. I would only bring a chair to
sit in if you were going this route.

Personally I would get there early, maybe watch some of the guys warm up and follow a few select groups you want to see while on the front nine. Maybe park yourself on the back at a hole you like. I have no idea how people are going to be there as far as letting you get close. The last tournament I went to was The Masters and everyone there is just so polite and don't steal your chairs and what not. Ugie probably knows better than I. I have never walked that course.

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Flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami

Most of the holes at Medinah are pretty accessible for galleries, so you shouldn't have much trouble making your way around to watch the action. Like T-Bone said, I would highly recommend grabbing a seat at one of the holes and watching all of the groups make their way through. The ropes on the par 3 second hole are about 20 yards from the green, and you can watch the players' tee-shots come in from over the lake. That will be prime seating, so get there early.

Tournament officials also have numerous grandstands set up throughout the course, and the 17th hole is especially awesome. It is about as close to "stadium seating" as you are gonna get at that course, so that may also be a good spot to set up camp. You'll also have a sightline to watch players tee-off on 18, if they get that far.

Of course, remember this is a match-play event. Many of the matches won't make it past holes 14 or 15, so camping on the 18th green might not be the best strategy.

Regardless of where you decide to sit, just know you won't be able to catch all of the action all of the time (obviously). there is a lot of stuff to see on the course (tents, merchandise, food, beer), so be sure to make your way around.

Do a little bit of everything. Definitely spend some time at the 1st tee. Between the 8th and 11th or 12th holes is a good spot to check out multiple greens. So hyped for this.

Check out Luke's bag and the tribute to Seve:

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Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

thanks for the advice guys! I'll probably go the route of camping at the green on #2 and watch all the groups go through and then moving around the course checking out as much as I can.

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Frank, you were right. Lake St was kinda crowded, and the guy with the Rhode Island plates in front of was driving slow, so I knew he had to be looking for Medinah......tons of security and police everywhere. Security was at Devry to make sure no one parked there, while other businesses are trying to sell their parking.....I think I'll do Army Trail for the rest of the week.

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For those looking for parking options for the event, I would highly recommend Arlington Race Course. Be sure to say "hello" to Elmhurst Shreve before leaving, though.

Seconded, when I was there for the Open we parked there and it worked out very nicely.

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Phil has been on 9 consecutive Ryder Cup teams.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

He's a workhorse when it comes to annoying me.

You just hate lefties, you racist.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

remember that there are only 4 matches friday morning, friday afternoon, sat morning and saturday afternoon. so you might want to find spots to watch all 4 groups come through, and on this course there are spots where you can do that and easily jump ahead 4 or 5 holes. For example you could follow the first group to 3, watch all 4 matches play 3, then jump over to 8 tee and you likely will catch the first group again and see all 4 groups play that par 3. 8 green is pretty close to 12 tee, so go there, and after the groups come through 12,you are not far to 17, which is a great hole. Just an idea where you could see all 4 groups play 4 different holes.

Wouldn't he be a disambiguationist? Or, in Latin, a Sinistrist?

Scottie Pippen's (Pippin) name was spelled incorrectly in the practice rounds schedule of events for the Captain/Celebrity Scramble.

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Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley

After much deliberation I think I'm gonna leave the house around 9 tomorrow and get there around 10-10:30. Gonna be a long day as it is, no need to kill myself trying to get there at 7am.

Gonna check out the course, buy some merch and try and get a glimpse of a few of the matches if possible. If its too much of a clusterfuck I'll probably leave around noon and go watch it at home. I'm getting the feeling that this might be a terrible sporting event to see in person if you actually really want to see the event.

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A lot of people here at work have been to previous Ryder Cup events and have said it is the worst golf event they have attended.

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It hasn't deterred anyone from going this time....I'm seeing nothing but packed Greyhound buses back and forth on Lake St and Glen Ellyn.

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yea, I have a feeling this is going to totally suck for a diehard fan such as myself who wants to see every match and every shot. With 40,000 fans there and only 4 groups on the course at a time its going to be an absolute clusterfuck at every hole. I was watching the practice yesterday on tv and there were already gallaries 20 deep.

I got free tickets and its day one so no big deal, I'll tivo the matches and just go there to check out the course for a couple hours and then come home and watch it on tv. I have a ticket for friday and I have a good feeling I'm going to end up taking a pass on that.

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Casual fans will not dig it. Wouldn't want to be under 6 ft. tall without a prime seat.

See every hole/every shot? That's what TV is for.

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Sex isn't dirty, sex isn't a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults.

-Hank Kingsley