Alright, let me tell you about my time at the RBC Canadian Open this year, 2024. I decided pretty last minute to head over, figured it’d be a good way to spend a day or two.
Getting there was the usual affair. Drove down, found some parking a bit of a walk away – you know how it is with these big events, parking’s always a bit of a game. Paid the fee, which wasn’t cheap, but hey, that’s expected. Then hoofed it over to the entrance.
First Impressions on the Ground
Once I got through the gates at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, the vibe hit me. It’s always a mix of serious golf fans and folks just out for a good time. Lots of chatter, people milling around, checking the leaderboards. The course itself looked great, really well-kept as always. You could smell the cut grass, that typical golf course smell.
I didn’t have a specific plan, really. Just started wandering. Walked the front nine first, just soaking it in. Caught glimpses of a few groups teeing off. The crowds were building, especially around the bigger names. You could tell where the popular players were just by the sheer number of people following them.
Following the Action
After a bit, I latched onto a group for a few holes. Watched them hit some irons into the green, listened to the crowd react. It’s different being there live compared to watching on TV. You hear the thwack of the ball, the groans when a putt lips out, the cheers when one drops. It’s much more immediate.
Some things I noticed:
- The volunteers were everywhere, really helpful pointing folks in the right direction. Good on them.
- Food and drinks – standard event prices. Grabbed a quick bite, nothing fancy, just needed some fuel to keep walking.
- The weather held up okay for the most part while I was there. Bit cloudy, but comfortable enough for walking around all day.
I spent a good chunk of time camped out near one of the par 3s later in the day. Always interesting to see how different pros tackle the same shot. Saw some brilliant shots pin-high, saw some find the bunker. That’s golf, right?
Wrapping Up the Day
Made my way towards the 18th green as the later groups started coming in. The atmosphere around the final hole is always buzzing. Found a decent spot to watch the players finish their rounds. Saw some good finishes, some guys looking pleased, others clearly frustrated.
By the end of it, I was pretty tired from all the walking, but it was a good day out. Saw some high-level golf, experienced the tournament atmosphere again. It’s something I try to do every so often. Just a solid experience overall, watching the pros do their thing up close. Headed back to the car, joined the slow crawl out of the parking area, and called it a day.
