I've been to plenty of golf tournaments, so I'm pretty familiar with how to position myself around and all the options as a member of the gallery.

But I've never been to anything like this where the crowd to player ratio is so lopsided. Thousands of fans with only six daily matches (24 players), not including the singles. Sounds like it could be CRAZY.

Saturday is the only day with AM matches, so I'd be there at the crack of dawn, other than that, sounds like a new strategy is needed.

Or am I better off at home watching in HD?

Any tips or advice from those of you that have attended these events?

EDIT - Rather than following groups, stakeout a spot early and stay there?

I've been to two Ryder Cups and they are awesome. VERY difficult to watch but the atmosphere is unlike anything you have seen in your entire life. Gallery viewing at the last Ryder Cup at Valhalla was the best ever. Not sure what it will be like at Medinah.

If you get there early go to the first tee. Watch the groups tee off then grab a bite to eat then go ahead a few holes and wait.

I went to the Ryder cup back in 85 and 89, and even back then it was horrific, we found you had to go ahead by about 6 holes and sit and watch the players come through to get any sort of decent view. I live fairly close by to Celtic manor but have no intention of going to watch it.

Good luck if you go - its an experience but a lot of hassle!

I went to The Ryder Cup at Valhalla and it was one of the best sporting events I've ever been to. Right up there with the Super Bowl, The Masters, College Football National Championship, and The Olympics...literally, that good.

They play AM matches on Friday and Saturday. I went to the Friday matches at Oakland Hills back in 04 and it was awesome (aside from getting our butts handed to us). We sat in a grandstand that gave us views of 3 holes. It does suck waiting for the action to roll through, but there were also video screens nearby to watch the action while we were waiting. It killed all my visits to the Buick Open in terms of fun even though the Buick usually attracted all the stars as a warmup for the Open. It's just something to do with the atmosphere and anticipation I guess. Plus it really is a once in a lifetime event for most people, myself included.

I went several days at Valhalla this year, and it was undescribable. The lopsided crowd was almost the best part about it. What we did was watch everyone tee off, then go up a few holes to scout a good place (most of the time we would find somewhere in between a green and a couple tee boxes where you could watch a few different things going on at once). We followed a couple groups for several holes as well, which was alittle tougher to see the action, but still really cool. We also recorded Sunday so we could watch it when we got home and have the best of both worlds. Bring some binoc's with you as well.

Went Oak Hill in 95. It was cold, rained on us, enormous crowd but my friends and I still talk about the experience of it. We had a blast.

You cannot follow a group from outside the ropes. You have to pick and choose your spots and even then there is no guarantee. We arrived on opening day and were one of the 1st to get on the course when the gates opened. We ran straight to the 1st tee and waited hours for the 1st tee time. We were on the ropes and no more than 10 feet from the tee blocks on the right side of the tee. As the first group arrived we had a perfect view.....then in an instant literally a hundred camera men, reporters, wives, and officials somehow fit themselves into that 10 foot space. We could barely see the tops of the players heads once it was all said and done.

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like a big hassle, but a great experience even though you may not see much golf. It's tempting, but the little voice inside is saying pass. By the way, this is for the President's Cup at Harding. Many of the holes run along Lake Merced or a city street, meaning space for the gallery on only one side of the hole. If I was a) younger and b) drank beer, I'd go. But my sofa and HDTV may get the nod...