There are two items this week The PGA Championship that have really elevated my experience: unlimited free food and The PGA Championship the map.
I’ve never been on a tour that has its own food and drink included with the ticket, and made a MASS change this week. Of course, I’m not your typical golf spectator. I have a credential, which means I have access to food in the media center. At most events, I spend my meals on the groups I want to attend. I haven’t quite got it down to a perfect science, so I often end up short with six or so holes left to go. The concession lines are usually too long for me to make a pit stop during tournament play, so I’ll just stay out on the course until I can’t ignore my rumbling stomach anymore.
Although that is not an issue this week because there are no lines for concessions. Would you like a cold drink? A hamburger? A hot dog? Just go right in, grab what you need and get back to what you were doing. No waiting in line to order or pay. I could get used to this!
Free food and drinks are nice, but I understand it’s not something at every golf tournament can do. However, the second element of the tournament we’re going to discuss—the handy PGA Championship Map, powered by T-Mobile—is something I absolutely believe in every tournament MUST do.
The interactive map lets you select a spot on the course — whether it’s a tee, green, tee or any other point of interest — and then gives you specific directions on how to get there. Think of whatever navigation app you use on your phone or in your car, and this is the golf version of it. The map outlines the line you need to follow (on T-Mobile magenta) and has a cursor to show you which way you’re facing, then tells you how many meters away your destination is and how long the walk will take.
I have known the journey of many golf courses during my golf media career, but Aronimink it’s a new one for me. Another work project earlier in the week meant I didn’t get to the site until Thursday morning, so my window to get a land during the practice rounds was closed. I’m a little embarrassed to admit how many times I’ve used the map to get me back to the media center over the past three days, but it’s definitely north of sixth.
Although the map is not the only thing The PGA Championship app went ok this week. There is also a seat finder function that allows you to select a stand and then take a look at it live to see how many open seats there are. That way you’re not wasting your time walking to a fun spot only to find that the grandstand is completely full. There is also an AI assistant in the app that will answer all your tour related questions.
Convenient, right? I think so too.
