The Ryder Cup

The real thing is not this big; it only weighs 4 pounds.

With the trees in full color and the soybean and corn harvest just beginning, we drove down to Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota to attend the first-day matches of the 41^st Ryder Cup.

Although we did not experience any of the embarrassing fan behavior that marred the last two days we certainly saw the makings of it; too many people with too much beer in too little space.

The beer and liquor stands outnumbered port-a-potties, opened at 7 a.m. and were selling 16-ounce tall boys and 22-ounce bombers. The only wonder is that the problems did not start any earlier than they did.

Because there are only four matches on the course at one time on both Friday and Saturday the crowds on those holes are enormous and it is basically impossible to follow a group. We quickly learned to pick our spots and wait. In the morning rounds we watched from afar on the 10^th hole and then set up across the small pond from the par-3 17^th green. However, only one match made it to 17 where Rickie Fowler hit it close and Andy Sullivan hit it in the water for a 1-up lead for the U.S. that held up when they halved the 18^th.

As soon as the morning matches ended we snagged seats in the stands behind the par 3 8^th green and stayed there until the afternoon groups played through a few hours later.

Our view of the 10th hole (note the guys in UK suits). Betsy was glad she brought her binoculars.

Our view of the 17th. The large video board kept us up to date as we waited.

Our view from the stands at #8.

Of the 16 players we saw play through, the highlights were Henrick Stenson’s near hole-in-one and Brooks Koepka’s sweet birdie. Check out this video where Stenson walks up to fix his ball mark after the near hole-in-one as the Patrick Reed - the American Warrior in this Ryder Cup - picks up Stenson's ball to give him the putt.

Betsy and her boyfriend.

The Arnold Palmer tribute wall.

Was it worth the cost and the time? We think so, although we don’t feel any particular desire to do it again. It’s one of those things that’s cool to say you’ve seen. Also, as we listened on the radio on the beautiful drive home on Saturday, and watched on TV Sunday, it was pretty neat to have been there. 

U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

On the way home to Washburn we stopped by to check out our daughter-in-law-to-be's alma mater, Carlton College in Northfield, MN. Is the weather always this pleasant?