p.1 #1 · questions about shooting at PGA tour events
hey FMers
well, my gf was offered free vip tickets to the PGA championship at oak hill in rochester. i have always wanted to go to a golf tourney, and this is certainly a good place to start!
i am curious what kind of photo gear i would be permitted to bring in. i have zero experience with this, so i do not even know if real rigs (vs. point-and-shoots) are permitted. however, since i shoot wildlife, i have a battery of long lenses including 500/4, 400/5.6, and 100-400L. even if i was permitted to bring the 500, i probably wouldn't do it unless someone on this board really convinced me i'd kill it if i took it. so, would the PGA folks give me funny looks or issues if i was to roll in with the 100-400 on my 1DIV?
p.1 #2 · questions about shooting at PGA tour events
Typically you can bring any camera(s) and lenses that you want during the practice rounds. Once the tournament starts on Thursday you won't be able to bring any camera in. At the Players Championship practice round I brought a 400 f/5.6 with monopod, and a 70-200. Your 100-400 would come in handy. I would also bring a wider angle lens for those times when the golfer gets close to the ropes. Many times you will find you will be able to get next to the ropes and the golfers won't be far away.
As a courtesy to the golfers don't start firing your shutter until the club face has just about hit the ball. This really only applies if you are within hearing distance. Bunker shots make for great photos. You will find that some of the golfers practice the bunker shots repeatedly. Just set your camera to high FPS. Since they won't have anybody walking behind them with the name boards, and the caddies won't be wearing bibs with the golfer's names, it will be difficult for you identify all of them later on. Having said that a lot of the golfers' bags have their names on them, and I took a picture of the bag and then the golfer to help me ID them later on.
I would probably stick close to three holes as opposed to walking the entire course. You are much more likely to get photos of more golfers if you stay in one area as opposed to being all over the place. If you go to the PGA Tour site PGA you may be able to find a listing of when the golfers will be teeing off during the practice rounds.
