U.S. Open Etiquette Guide

If you’re planning on heading to to watch the U.S. Open this week, be sure to follow these rules of play and suggestions for spectators. We sourced this information from the 2011 U.S. Open Spectator Guide.

• Always stay behind gallery ropes and cooperate with marshals.
• Display your U.S. Open ticket at all times.
• Kneel or sit if you are in the front row of the gallery.
• Walk carefully and never run.
• Wear proper footwear – including sneakers -- for walking on dirt paths, hills, and other uneven surfaces.
• Only use marked paths and spectator walkways.
• Be considerate of the environment by disposing of plastic bottles in blue bags and concession cups, napkins and wrappers in green collection bags and boxes.
• Always remove trash and recyclables from shuttle buses and dispose of them properly.
• Do not approach a player to ask for their autograph from the time immediately preceding their starting time to the completion of their rounds, including while the player is at the practice area and en route to the first tee.
• If possible, carpool to the championship.

Certain items are not allowed at Congressional during the U.S. Open due to safety precautions. If you have one of these items, you will not be allowed on a shuttle bus or through the main admission gate, so be sure to leave them at home. Prohibited items include:

• Cell phones 
• PDAs and portable e-mail devices
• MP3 players
• Cameras or Camcorders (Monday through Wednesday, these items will be allowed for non-commercial uses and only without their cases)
• Bags larger than eight inches in width, height and depth
• Cases or covers, including umbrella or chair covers
• Signs, posters or banners
• Televisions and/or radios, except those provided by the USGA
• Food or beverages
• Containers or coolers
• Pets other than service animals
• Lawns or folding chairs
• Bicycles
• Ladders or step stools
• Metal-spiked golf shoes
• Weapons