This year my dad and I will be checking out the Deutsche Bank PGA tournament outside Boston. I am 32 years old and my dad has 30 years on me. I searched the site but wasn't able to answer my questions about the best way to approach being a spectator. Have people had luck with a balance of walking and bleachers? I guess the bleachers fill up early? We are thinking that this year we will attend the practice round because it might be a chance to get closer to the players without the final round crowds. It would be great to get some do's and don't from people who have been there or to other PGA tournaments as spectators. Thanks. -Zac

You'll probably get a lot of different opinions on this. For me, it depends on whether it's a practice round or a competition round. For a practice round, I like to follow a player or group all the way around. It gives me an opportunity to learn about how they prepare for a tournament and how they would like to manage the course. For a competition round I prefer to plant myself. I like to be right by the ropes on 18 tee. Not in the bleachers, but in my own chair. (This isn't feasible at every venue though.) The beauty of this strategy is I don't have to get there early, since nobody is playing 18 first thing in the morning. The other great thing about being right by the 18 tee is you get to hear the back and forth between player and caddie. There's usually some interesting stuff to listen in on.

Thanks for the feedback OpusX20. It sound like you have got it down. We are going to the practice round. I think we will mix sitting and walking, if we can find a seat on the bleachers. I like what you said about following one group around to see how they prepare. Sounds like fun! Additional feedback is welcome.

Drink lots of water especially if it is hot. If you can bring some snacks for energy. Food and drinks are usually expensive at any sporting event.

I attend the Deutsche Bank tournament every year. I like to follow one group, but it is tough to do on the front 9 because of the gaps between 3 & 4 and 7 & 8. The players get shuttled in carts and you can't keep up. The back side is easier to stay with one group. The grandstands do fill up as the day goes on. Some grandstands are reserved for members and sponsors. If you want to see Tiger up close, you will have to stake out your spot 2 holes ahead and wait for him to come through.

At the Nissan quite a few years ago My dad and I followed a group (Fred Couples actually) because it was an early group and then planted ourselves at a green on the back nine that had an approach shot that had most of the players coming in from inside 140 yds so we could watch the long drivers try to throw darts with 120 yd or less approaches, and the rest of the field hitting a mid iron in and have some remarkable mid range put attempts for birdie.

I usually do both.

Walk around for a while and stop/sit anywhere there's a spot close to the "action".

Do all the players that are popular to see on competitive round days generally play in the scheduled practice rounds?