PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — With a COVID-imposed limit of 10,000 patrons per day at a tournament that attracted upwards of 50,000 fans per day in past years, this year’s Honda Classic has a much different feel for fans, vendors and officials.
Concession sales are down, and the reduced crowds at the Bear Trap, which comprises the difficult 15th, 16th and 17th holes at the Champion course at PGA National Resort & Spa, are much less raucous than in past years. Grandstands around the greens that were once jammed with noisy fans now have quieter, socially distanced fans.
“You notice the difference in the stands, definitely, but the atmosphere is still the same,” said volunteer Valerie Coope of Stuart, Florida, who, along with her husband, Daniel, operated the ShotLink system at the 16th green.
For many years, the couple has worked primarily at the 16th hole with ShotLink, which records the length of every shot, including putts, hit by every player. “You can’t beat being out in the sun, being this close to the players.”
The adjacent par-3 17th hole was always the tournament’s noisiest, with fans in the grandstands around the tee shouting encouragement, and, in the case of some players, insults, as the golfers prepared to hit iron shots to a green fronted on three sides by water.
The fans were much more subdued Thursday and Friday, expressing appreciation for good tee shots and commiserating with, rather than ridiculing, the pros whose shots splashed down short of the green.
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“It’s been pretty tame,” said marshal Lorraine Farmer, a West Palm Beach, Florida, native who has been a volunteer along with her husband since the days when the tournament was known as the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic.
As a marshal, Farmer’s job is to hold up “Quiet Please” signs as players prepare to hit their tee shots. At past Hondas, especially late in the afternoon when some fans had enjoyed multiple adult beverages, shushing the crowd was a challenge. Friday afternoon, the sound was more of a low murmur.
Chase Parker of Eugene, Oregon, Todd Fulton of Sarasota, Florida, Jarrod Lussier of Jupiter, Florida, and Anthony Huber of Verona, New Jersey, hung out between the 17th tee and green, where they cheered players as they walked past them toward the green.
In past years, the crowd along the ropes might have been five or more people deep. The four friends didn’t have anyone in front of or behind them.
“The crowds are nothing like they were,” Fulton said.
“We’re just happy to be here,” Huber added. “We love this.”
Another thing they loved: Not having to wait 10 minutes to get something to eat or drink.
At the Goslings Bear Trap by the 16th green and 17th tee, a woman named Brianna served a variety of rum drinks to customers. She said the most popular cocktail was the Dark ’n Stormy, which features Goslings dark rum and ginger beer.
“It was a lot busier the past few years, but there’s still a pretty great turnout I feel like,” she said. “We’re definitely busier today than we were yesterday. I think we’re on target for the projected sales.
“I guess this year (based on the limited attendance) they projected it differently. I was told that the years prior it felt like you were at a concert almost. It was packed.”
At a nearby refreshment stand between the 10th and 17th greens, employees Amber and Jack said business was slow, but steady.
“It hasn’t been too busy, but we do have enough customers coming in that we keep going,” Amber said. “We definitely had a lot more people last year. We don’t have a lot of people waiting in line. Last year, it was really packed, and we had a lot of people backed up in all three lines. Now, we have a steady flow. Everyone comes in and usually the three stations are good enough to get everyone.”
She and Jack added that bottles of water were by far their most popular item, followed by cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches.
