The U.S. Open Crowd Problem: Why Golf Fans Are Acting Like Idiots

Remember when people used to give a damn? Like, actually care about not being a complete tool in public? My parents tell me there was a time when acting like a jackass wasn’t just easy, it was practically discouraged. The social environment, they say, had a way of making you feel like a pathetic bastard if you stepped too far out of line. Shame. That was the secret sauce. Shame kept the worst of us in check. But somewhere along the line, that whole shame thing seems to have packed its bags and left town. And now? Now we’ve got U.S. Open crowds acting like they just chugged a case of pure ignorance.

Seriously, Shinnecock. The U.S. Open. A place where golf history is made. And what do we get? A bunch of people loudly rooting against the guy who’s been playing lights-out all week. Against Wyndham Clark. Against Rory McIlroy. Against pretty much anyone who wasn’t fitting their little narrative. The USGA had to issue an apology. An apology! Mid-tournament. Because the crowd decided to act like a bunch of overgrown toddlers throwing a tantrum. It’s a mess. A complete and utter mess.

And the worst part? Nobody seems surprised. Or maybe they are, but it’s the kind of surprise that comes after you’ve already accepted the inevitable. Like, “Oh, look, the house is on fire again. Who could have seen that coming?”

Social Media: The Echo Chamber of Ignorance

You want to know where this all started? Look no further than your phone. Social media. We grew up with it, right? Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Back then, we were just posting into the void, thinking it was all fun and games. Tech bros sold us this idea of a “virtual town hall.” Sounded civic-minded, didn’t it? For a hot minute, maybe it even was. But then we got hooked. And what did we realize? We were stuck in a never-ending town hall where the loudest, most obnoxious voices always win. Sound familiar?

That’s what happened at Shinnecock. We’ve let these “virtual town halls” bleed into real life. And the rules of engagement? They’ve been twisted to deliberately inflame every single one of our worst impulses. The people in the crowd weren’t cheering for good golf. They were “dunking.” They weren’t fans; they were internet commenters, unleashed in the real world. And the players? They weren’t even seen as people anymore. Just targets for their rage.

It’s sad, really. Truly sad. To have this incredible spectacle – a beautiful, historic golf course, an amazing athletic achievement unfolding, guys living out lifelong dreams – and to flatten it all down into our little internet cubbies of outrage and judgment. And then to act on those feelings in broad daylight, with zero empathy for the people around you? It’s not just wrong. It’s pathetic.

Where Did Empathy Go?

My parents always talked about empathy. How it’s always been a human strength. Something you work towards. Slowly. Painfully, sometimes. But it brought us closer. It made us feel known. There was something almost holy about that. Being understood. Being seen.

But if we can’t even manage basic empathy – because we’re too caught up in a fleeting feeling, or we just don’t like a particular golfer – then at least we used to be able to find our “better angels.” You know, make an effort. Not because we were inherently better people, smarter, or knew more. But because we felt something that seems to be disappearing faster than a good lie on a championship green. That something is shame.

Shame. It’s that gut-wrenching feeling when you realize you’ve gone too far. When you’ve embarrassed yourself. When you’ve let yourself down. And it’s a feeling that too many golf fans, especially at events like the U.S. Open, seem to be allergic to these days. Whether it’s at Shinnecock or anywhere else, this behavior is becoming all too familiar.

The Spectacle of Bad Behavior

Let’s be blunt. The crowds at Shinnecock weren’t the absolute worst I’ve ever seen. Nobody was yelling directly into someone’s backswing. No parents were getting cursed out. But you know what? For a few minutes on Sunday, I realized I wasn’t even hearing the jeers. I’d become so damn used to them. That’s how normalized it’s become. We’ve just accepted this as part of the U.S. Open experience. And that, my friends, is a terrifying thought.

This isn’t just about golf. This is about how we interact with each other, especially in public spaces where we feel a false sense of anonymity. The internet has given us a platform to express every fleeting thought, every negative emotion, without consequence. And when we step out of the digital world and into the real one, that habit sticks. We become commenters, not spectators. We become hecklers, not fans.

Think about it. What’s the point of watching these incredible athletes push the limits of human performance if your primary goal is to disrupt it? To make them uncomfortable? To feel a sense of power by yelling at someone who’s trying their absolute best? It’s a twisted form of entertainment. It’s the antithesis of sportsmanship.

Is Long Island Really the Problem?

Now, you’ll hear people suggesting that Long Island should be banned from hosting major championships. As someone who’s proud of my golfing heritage from that area, that stings. But after witnessing these events up close, I can’t entirely disagree. It’s not just Long Island, though. This is a widespread issue. The same kind of behavior has popped up at other major championships. It’s a symptom of a larger problem.

The problem isn’t the location. The problem is the mindset. The entitlement. The lack of respect. The belief that your personal feelings and opinions are more important than the collective experience or the integrity of the competition. It’s the same garbage we see online, just amplified in a stadium setting.

We’re so quick to judge, so eager to criticize, and so reluctant to offer support or admiration. We’d rather tear someone down than lift them up. And in the context of a golf tournament, that translates to booing the leader, jeering at a missed putt, or generally creating an atmosphere of negativity. It’s a damn shame, literally.

What Can Be Done?

So, what’s the solution? Banning people? That seems extreme. Education? Maybe. But how do you educate someone who doesn’t think they’ve done anything wrong? The core issue is a breakdown in social decorum. A loss of perspective. A forgetting of the basic rules of engagement that used to govern public behavior.

Perhaps we need to reintroduce the concept of shame. Not in a cruel way, but in a way that reminds people that their actions have consequences, not just for themselves, but for everyone around them. We need to foster an environment where good sportsmanship is celebrated and bad behavior is met with disapproval, not just passive acceptance.

For those of us who love the game of golf, who appreciate the skill, the dedication, and the sheer athleticism on display, it’s frustrating. It’s infuriating. We want to see the best golf played in the best atmosphere. We want to feel the excitement, the tension, and the shared joy of witnessing greatness. We don’t want to be subjected to a sideshow of petty grievances and obnoxious commentary.

The next time you’re at a golf tournament, or any public event for that matter, remember that you’re part of a community. Your actions affect others. Choose to be a positive force. Applaud great shots. Respect the players. And for God’s sake, try to act like you have some damn sense. It’s not that hard. It really isn’t. Check out resources on golf etiquette to remind yourself of the basics. A little bit of knowledge goes a long way. For instance, understanding proper course etiquette is crucial for enjoying the game without disrupting others. Learn more about golf etiquette and help preserve the spirit of the game.

We’re better than this. Or at least, we used to be. It’s time to remember that. It’s time to bring shame back.