Golf Courses Are Quiet... 'Cheonman-e'

WM Phoenix Open: The "Golf Liberation Zone"
A Stage Where Drinking and Loud Cheering Are Allowed
Passionate Cheering Battle at the Ryder Cup National Team Competition
Fan Club-Led Group Actions on the KLPGA Tour

Golf is a sport that values manners. Unlike other sports, it must be played gentlemanly, which is why golf courses always maintain a quiet atmosphere. However, not all tournaments are static. Some are filled with excitement. A prime example is the PGA Tour WM Phoenix Open (total prize money of $9.2 million). This year's tournament kicked off on the 6th (local time) at TPC Scottsdale (par 71, 7,261 yards) in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.

The WM Phoenix Open is a "golf sanctuary" where gallery drinking and loud cheering are allowed. Photo by WM Phoenix Open

The WM Phoenix Open is known as the 'Golf Liberation Zone.' It is the only golf tournament in the world where drinking and loud cheering are allowed. It is a kind of 'reverse marketing.' Spectators cheer while drinking beer and do not hesitate to boo if a shot is unsatisfactory. Cheers erupt even as players set up their shots. Thanks to this unique operating style, the tournament attracts up to 700,000 spectators.

Especially, the 16th hole (par 3) is the highlight of the WM Phoenix Open. A massive three-tiered stand that can accommodate up to 30,000 people is installed, reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum gladiator arena. When players step onto the tee box, a giant screen zooms in on all their movements, and the gallery shouts with the enthusiasm of hooligans. At 163 yards, it is a relatively easy hole where players can aim for a birdie using a 9-iron, but unexpected shots can occur under the tension. Depending on the tee shot result, cheers and boos alternate, and players prepare gifts such as hats, golf balls, and sunglasses for the gallery, which acts like a kind of 'toll fee.'

When Sam Ryder made a hole-in-one on the 16th hole during the third round of the 2022 WM Phoenix Open, the gallery threw beer cans toward the green.

Sam Ryder (USA) experienced an unforgettable moment at this tournament in 2022. He made a hole-in-one during the third round. It was the first hole-in-one in seven years since Francesco Molinari (Italy) in 2015. The enthusiastic gallery threw beer cans and drink bottles onto the course, and it took more than 20 minutes to clean up.

The Ryder Cup, a national team competition, is no exception. This tournament, where the USA and the European Union face off, started in 1927 and has continued for nearly 100 years as a 'golf war.' There is no prize money, but players compete fiercely for pride more valuable than money. Loud cheers and boos are also allowed in this tournament.

In Korea, gallery cheering culture has been attempted in some cases. In the 2016 KPGA Tour Munsingwear Match Play, the title sponsor Descente Korea installed a gallery stand at the 15th hole where cheering was allowed. Spectators were permitted to cheer even while players were taking shots, and beer was provided free of charge.

In the KLPGA Tour, a cheering culture centered around fan clubs has been established. Representative fan clubs include Lim Hee-jeong's fan club 'Pretty Desert Fox' and Park Hyun-kyung's fan club 'Cutie Play Hyun-kyung.' They enthusiastically cheer while holding cheering placards and wearing custom-made hats. Before tee shots, they shout the player's name and yell 'Fighting,' establishing a diverse cheering culture.