Drawing comparisons with how a European Tour come D.P World Tour golf event is managed compared to a modern day race meeting is comparing chalk with cheese, such is the gulf in how the staff keep the show ticking over.
The difference is a stark one. I attended the Cazoo Classic at the delightful Hillside last week end, visiting on the Thursday and Sunday. The field did not quite boast the depth of the 2019 tournament staged at the venue but for those who would enjoy following around hardy European Tour regulars, some with struggling profiles, it was a gratifying experience, for a most reasonable cost of £20 for the opening day and £25 for the concluding day.
A notable aspect concerned the professionalism of the staff and volunteers, who all appeared to relish carrying out their tasks, completely opposite to the miserable sods that the racecourses somehow have a habit of employing.
And make no mistake, those staffing golf courses are busy throughout the whole day, opening and closing crossings as play develops, having to divert spectators from walking into line of sight spots, or are inadvertently crossing fairways that are in play or even following playing groups in the in play areas, all easily done in error - the shepherding is applied in a firm when needed but friendly humorous manner by staff who are themselves golfing buffs.
The rules don't allow alcohol or picnic hampers to be brought in - understandable in the sense that an in play ball could fall literally anywhere out on the course requiring crowds to be moved aside speedily. But the common sense applied all round is something which racecourses could and should learn from.
On the Sunday I arrived with a soft cloth Puma shoulder bag containing a bottle of water, a banana and chicken cobs. I was waved through the baggage checking area, as it was clear I was not carrying a hamper and unlikely to have booze in my possession.
A refreshing change from being asked to show the contents of my pockets and told that even small home sandwiches could not be brought in by racecourse staff who without resorting to a Thesaurus, I am unable to find a more accurate alternative than ' arseholes' to describe them.
The pricing of drink and food was notably lower than for an Open Championship, which do admittedly and shamefully charge top dollar but in general the price of a pint around was £1.50 lower than that charged at the Aintree Grand National fixture, though as I am always on the move (over eight miles on my Steps App) boozing was not the purpose of the day - just two alcoholic drinks all day on each day,
Trying to look for an area to allow racecourses some leeway in the debate is a difficult one other than the attendees at a racing event are now a different breed to times past. Back in the 1970's it was a common sight at the likes of Haydock Park on a Saturday to have large groups arriving in charabangs carrying in large amounts of the likes of Tetley, Skol, and Double Diamond into the venue, and finding a speck for the consignment on the steps in the stand - however, in addition to the daily newspapers they'd have at least one Sporting Chronicle and Sporting Life amongst them.They were racing fans and they behaved as such.
Nowadays the large parties who alight from the coaches are generally almost all lukewarm to the sport, with the conversation being more Callum Wilson than Callum Shepherd, and players in the injury list taking more attention up than non runners.
I find that those attending modern day golf tournaments are extremely passionate and knowledgeable over their sport. It's something that the dwindling number of modern day racing fans should be envious over. In fact, it dawned on me that the present day Golf course spectators were in general similar to those who attended racecourses fifty or more years ago, such is how they conduct themselves along with the enthusiasm shown towards the sport on offer.
And how enjoyable it is to dip in and out of the various groups in play and watch the many characters going about their profession......... a lowly ranked Portuguese contestant having a mare on Thursday, missing fairways alternately left and right, going into bunkers, but greeting with a hand slap a probable relative following his group around.....an Englishman commentating aloud on his shots to few friends or relatives tracking him around........a South African character who has definitely increased his waste size since I last saw him, both he and his caddy look to have addictive natures, regularly puffing away on vaping pipes..... an Italian regular who the last time he played I'd overheard him ask his caddy on one of the early holes if the passing train went to Chester, not something you could predict would enter the conversation with a thousand guesses and certainly not something that you'd find incorporated into a player/caddy conversation in one of those computer golfing games..... hardy local veterans locals attracting plenty of good mannered encouragement......a Frenchman constantly bearing a most angry expression on his face.... a fellow countryman of his prone to angry let it all go self critical outbursts......while anothe, Julien Guerrier, maybe should have let off some steam as he bottled his emotions while in the process of going into meltdown and throwing away a semingly unassailable lead with only half a dozen holes left, and while the Scotsman Richie Ramsay received slightly more vocal encouragement as he closed down the leader, the faltering leader was given hearty respectful, enthusiastic support.....
It's now too late too put mechanisms into place that would return racecourses into locations for racing fans. The change that began to take hold the early 1990's is now too far gone which is why in desperation. gimmicky events are introduced by those with no real understanding of the real appeals of the game.
Golfing crowds are a mirror of how racing spectators existed in the past, passionate fans coming along to immerse themselves in something they understand and relish. It's a sport that ticks all the boxes with regard to the future, environment friendly, no animals involved, reaching to all corners of the globe.......as for the present state of UK horse racing, well, in three words, it's in bits.
A track from a strong throughout album and one of Bowie's best. And as usual, returning to a time when racing in the UK stood high on the podium along the other truly major sports
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