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The ultimate U.S. Women’s Open guide — for golf novices

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The ultimate U.S. Women’s Open guide — for golf novices

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LANCASTER — The U.S. Women’s Open kicked off Thursday with thousands of fans arriving, eager to catch a glimpse of star players and soak in the atmosphere of the high-stakes championship at the scenic Lancaster Country Club.

Those who’ve never attended a big-time golf tournament might wonder what it’s like on the ground. How accessible is the experience for newcomers — or, rather, those with next to no knowledge of the sport? Where are the best places to watch? And what if you get tired of the golf and want something else to do?

I made my excursion to the course on Thursday morning, and for somebody whose experience with golf comes exclusively from Wii Sports… I had a surprisingly enjoyable time.

As a member of the press, I was instructed to arrive at Lot E through Gate 1. But, because New Holland Pike shut down due to the U.S. Open, Google Maps sabotaged my drive over to the course. Instead of a smooth ride straight to Lot E designated for media, my route diverted along back roads and through neighborhoods as pedestrians decked out in golf gear milled about.

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The were signs of the event the whole way, with the U.S. Open dominating billboards along Route 30. The tournament is unavoidable, even if you don’t have tickets to get inside the exclusive country club.

By some miracle — be it the golf gods or a few helpful parking enforcement workers — I made it to the U.S. Women’s Open in one piece just as the first competitors teed off.

After parking and making it through security, fans arriving are first greeted with the merchandise pavilion. And as someone who loves themed merchandise, I definitely would be checking it out — but we’ll circle back to this later. 

To the right of merchandise, there are some booths set up with commercial vendors, a first-aid station, food and a large Jumbotron where fans could watch the action from the comfort of Adirondack chairs in the shade. 

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But for those aiming to get up and close to the action, straight ahead from the welcome area is the course itself.

Lancaster Country Club is a beautiful, sprawling course with over 400 acres of land. The charter forming the club was officially signed by founding members in 1900 as a prime location for families to enjoy Sunday dinners, sports and picnics together, according to its website.

The main grounds is located to the left of the Conestoga River, which partially runs through the course itself. During the U.S. Women’s Open, kayakers could be seen paddling down the river, which I found to be particularly charming.

As somebody who usually only watches golf when it happens to be on TV, my first impression was that I didn’t realize just how close fans can get to the action. Athletes were teeing off right before our very eyes, with spectators politely commentating and clapping before walking down toward the fairway.

The overall vibe was very mellow and relaxing, which I expected. Fans were overall very polite, occasionally groaning or cheering depending on if a golfer made or missed a putt.

What I found particularly fun about watching golf in person is, unlike other sporting events where you watch from one seat the entire time, you can pretty much go anywhere on the course and walk around to your heart’s content. I found that most people gathered around the green or the tee box.

Though I had no invested interest in any particular athlete, I wondered if spectators did. 

George Hahalis, of Lititz, was watching Nelly Korda on Thursday morning — though he wasn’t rooting for anybody in particular either.

“I’m just out here enjoying it,” Hahalis said. “It just happens that someone’s like, ‘Hey do you want to go to the Open?’ And I’m like ‘Yeah, I’ll go to the Open.'”

Hahalis, a golfer himself, said he had previously been to the U.S. Open when LCC hosted the major in 2015, drawing record crowds and earning another chance to host nine years later.

“They did a nice job,” Hahalis said. “It’s been fun.”

On Thursday, Hahalis was joined by his brother Al. Al, who is from Phoenix, Arizona, took the trip to visit his brother. By happenstance, the U.S. Women’s Open was rolling into town, so the brothers took the opportunity to go together.

“I’m just here to enjoy,” Al Hahalis said.

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After parting ways with the Hahalis brothers, I watched a couple more groups before heading over to the USGA & Museum Experience. I was particularly interested in this since I had such little golf knowledge — so what better way to learn than through the museum!

Inside, there was a miniature golf course set up for children, a photo op station and the museum itself. The museum boasted unique iconography and relics from both men’s and women’s golf of the past. 

On display near the front of the museum was a trophy won by Lucy Barnes Brown for winning the 1895 U.S. Women’s Amateur — the first national women’s golf tournament — at the Meadow Brook Club in Jericho, New York. The trophy was a large silver pitcher. 

The museum also had golf clubs, shoes and hats worn by golf pros ranging from as early as the 1920s through the late 1990s. Stacy Schiff, the librarian with the U.S. Open, greeted guests and showcased the history of the game.

“We preserve the history of the game of golf,” Schiff said. “We have over a million assets. We’re helping to tell the story of the game and all of its iconic players.”

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Schiff had a booth set up near the rear of the museum showcasing putters and balls from the 1920s and 1930s. She also showed folks how golfers would tee off 100 years ago: using sand.

Before the advent of wooden tees, golfers would mold their tees using water and sand. The molds, interestingly enough, were produced in Lancaster County, Schiff said.

“It keeps the chronology of the evolution of equipment, of clothing, of everything that we do,” Schiff said, of the importance of golf history. “We preserve the history of the game for everyone around the world.”

After walking the course for a while, I decided to check out the available food options. Aside from the main food pavilions with your traditional backyard barbecue food, I also found a milkshake stand, a Philly cheesesteak booth and a Philly Pretzel Factory food truck.

I decided on a turkey club wrap and a Gatorade from the food pavilion near the main entrance of the golf course. I rated the meal five out of five golf balls. 

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My last stop on Thursday was the merchandise pavilion. As someone who loves themed clothing and tchotchkes, I was interested to see what was being offered. 

For the most part, the apparel was your traditional golf outerwear with the 2024 U.S. Open logo embroidered on it. This year’s logo featured a striking red rose to symbolize Lancaster’s nickname as the “Red Rose City.”

The merchandise pavilion also sold hats, blankets, shoes, umbrellas, charcuterie boards, wine glasses and teddy bears, among dozens of other things. Personally, my favorite merchandise item was the “oversized golf ball” for $15.

Prices for merchandise items varied, though they leaned on the pricier side. Polo shirts or long-sleeved jackets, for example, ranged from $75 to $94. Cotton t-shirts, meanwhile, ranged from around $32 to $38. Walking around the merchandise pavilion, it seemed the oversized golf ball for $15 was looking like a pretty reasonable deal. 

As my time at the U.S. Open came to a close, I enjoyed a light breeze and observed fans simply living in the moment. I particularly enjoyed the simplistic calmness that comes with golf.

Whereas other sports, like basketball or football, are very chaotic, loud and hard to follow at times, golf is a relaxing endeavor that I now have a greater understanding for.

The next time the U.S. Open rolls into central Pennsylvania, you can bet I’ll be there again.

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