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No photos and more..... OPEN farce.

Tommo21

Tour Winner
Joined
Dec 16, 2007
Messages
4,678
Location
East Lothian Scotland
www.royalmusselburgh.co.uk
So I’m gaurding the 18th cross over from 7am, waiting on the hole marshals to start. Thousands of people pass me coming in from the two main gates and I keeping them within the white lines.

Many stop to take photos of the final hole, many from all over the globe. Then I get the POLO gear clad servicemen or former servicemen telling them and me there is no photography of any kind.

Now this is another of these R&A rules that can never be enforced when 20,000 people are there. Video is taken all the time during play, many I’ve seen on facebook already tonight.

I’m all for no photography when the player is hitting his shot, but this farcical, unworkable rule puts me off going to these things and is one of the reasons, I believe, puts off others.

As soon as this guy passed out came the cameras again and I stopped taking set photos of people with the clubhouse in the background. However, I turned a blind eye to this practice as hundreds were crossing at any one time and the photos were clearly for their own consumption…if you know what I mean.

Security let people in with cameras and phones………it beats me.

Phil’s caddie, Bones, gave someone a right telling off on the first tee, long before the names were announced. I felt sorry for that person as I seen many with phones and such like.

Even on a practice day the POLO plonkers told everyone no cameras when Tiger was playing, but not a word, or a care, when Freddy or Dufner played.

This whole circus needs to realise it’s the punter who splash the cash for the golf clubs, balls and pay good money at the gate. Gate numbers are down and I believe this type of thing is the reason…….along with the one dimensional Ralph Lauren tented village....and does anyone know what Doosan is all about. Google them, it's nothing to do with golf, so give the punters what they don't want. Thats the way to pull in the punters.

Wait for the Ryder cup………….I won’t be there, even if they paid me.
 
Just in defence of the 'POLO servicemen' they are doing what they have been told to do by the organisers!! Anyway, who cares what they say, your going to do it anyway.
 
Just in defence of the 'POLO servicemen' they are doing what they have been told to do by the organisers!! Anyway, who cares what they say, your going to do it anyway.

Thats where you are wrong.....I've been there since last sunday, they were selective of what and when they told the public, I seen it first hand a good few times.
 
Will ask my mate next week who is a polo plod. Not sure what he did yesterday or is doing today, but Thursday Friday he went round with Darren Clarke. He loves it, has been doing the open for about 5 years! I don't see the appeal personally...
 
Will ask my mate next week who is a polo plod. Not sure what he did yesterday or is doing today, but Thursday Friday he went round with Darren Clarke. He loves it, has been doing the open for about 5 years! I don't see the appeal personally...

Dont get me wrong, they're there for a good reason and on the whole they do a good job. BUT, when you've got people who come half way round the world and all they want to do is take a photo up the 18th when there is no players, a sight that is open to all, beats me.
 
Dont get me wrong, they're there for a good reason and on the whole they do a good job. BUT, when you've got people who come half way round the world and all they want to do is take a photo up the 18th when there is no players, a sight that is open to all, beats me.

Saw them at it on Thursday and they were out of order with some of their antics. they definitely need to brush up on their people skills.

When Tiger carved his opening tee shot on the first away to the boonies on the left on Thursday, the Polo servicemen were off like a shot to get to where the ball landed. It didn't matter that there was another player still waiting to play his tee shot. We watched them hustle and barge their way through the crowd all the way up to the place the ball came to rest.

The 18th crossing was similar on Thursday, lots of people stopping to take pics or video of the location. These guys were only evident with some of the 'top' groups and again their people skills left a lot to be desired. By all means let them do their job, but it'd be a lot easier for them if they didn't antagonise the public with their often disdainful outbursts. If spoke to them a little more sympathetically they might well get a better response.
 
I looked for you yesterday when I arrived at 7am but couldn't locate you.

Maybe you were wearing a cap or maybe it was the fact I was going photo crazy with my IPhone while I was crossing 18.;):whistle:
 
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I took quite a few pics at Lythm last year. By the time they tell you No cameras,you've already taken the pic.
 
Many many moons ago when attending The British Masters at Woburn... Seve was walking down the 18th fairway herself pulled out her [real film] compact camera... Seve stopped, posed with his best beaming smile then walked on saying hello... Top player top gentleman... Think more than a few forget that without spectators/fans they'd not be the millionaires they are...
 
Many many moons ago when attending The British Masters at Woburn... Seve was walking down the 18th fairway herself pulled out her [real film] compact camera... Seve stopped, posed with his best beaming smile then walked on saying hello... Top player top gentleman... Think more than a few forget that without spectators/fans they'd not be the millionaires they are...


real class.

[video=youtube;HTFLZMc_iaI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTFLZMc_iaI[/video]
 
I spent four days at the masters and was allowed to take zero photographs, I even asked if it would be possible to take a couple of photos after the days playing had finished- no chance I was told. Pretty crap if you ask me.
They make you walk through airport style scanners going into the masters and if you have a phone/camera/electronic device you don't get in- no arguments
 
Power to the people:D that's what make the British open the Ryder cup or a queen concert at Wembley to a champion.
people say Woods lost his aura, or Rory lost his game, but the Real thing they lost is the people.
If you see a great champion like Garry, Nicklaus, Hogan, Snead, Faldo, Seve ect. they have that energy from the people
or "karma" as you say today. Also great move on Phill to play last week to feel this energy.
 
Having been one of the Polo clad servicemen in the past, I can tell you that we normally got put in the problem positions as we are less likely to put up with BS from bolshy(half drunk) spectators who do not appreciate that they are effecting every one else. The crossing on 18 is usually the busiest on the course and people stopping for photo's causes log jams which leads to people walking around them and going outside the lines. Players only get relief from the crossings inside the white lines so causing wear and tear outside them is to be kept to an absolute minimum.
 
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