Josh Antmann: The Marco Simone is going to be very special for the Ryder Cup fans
Adrian Meronk of Poland interacts with their caddie on the 13th green during Day Four of the DS Automobiles Italian Open at Marco Simone Golf Club on May 07, 2023 in Italy. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
For the first time in history, Italy will host the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup. Incredibly it's just three months away and the shape of both teams is changing from week to week. It will be a magical few days of golf and many people will only be leaving their sofa to put the kettle on and go to the toilet. However, if you're lucky enough to be going to the Marco Simone then you're in for a treat.
I was fortunate to be working for Sky at the Italian Open at the start of May and the course grew on me each day I was there. I'd heard rumours the course was in poor condition and still needed some work to be ready for September, but this was far from true and I could immediately tell it was going to be a belting track for the Ryder Cup. Not only for the players but as a fan experience it might be one of the best.
It's about 30 minutes outside of Rome but that all depends on the traffic. It might be one of the craziest cities to drive in and you need the patience of a saint. Getting in and out is no easy task so if you're staying in the centre then leave plenty of time to get to the course.
Walking the course on the Tuesday it gave me very similar vibes to Le Golf National, where the 2019 Ryder Cup was held. The setup in France gave a distinct advantage to the European side, and Luke Donald is going for the old adage of, 'if it ain't broke then don't fix it'. The rough is incredibly penal and any ball that goes in will just have to be hacked out. And it's only a few feet from the beautiful fairways so anything mildly off line will be punished. The greens are vast with lots of slope on them so accuracy is a premium. That thick rough surrounds the greens and control is nearly impossible. Adrian Meronk's short game was like an exhibition throughout the week and was a huge reason why he took the title in Italy.
A general view of the course prior to the DS Automobiles Italian Open at Marco Simone Golf Club on May 02, 2023 in Italy. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
But it became quickly apparent that the Marco Simone is going to be very special for the fans. The 1st tee grandstand is huge and will hold 5,000 people. Friday morning is going to be an electric atmosphere and if you don't get goosebumps there's something wrong with you. It will be colourful, loud and the view down the fairway is spectacular.
There is so much elevation on the course that you can't really have a bad viewpoint. But there's are a couple of spots I would highly recommend. The 11th green is the highest point of the course and there is a beautiful tree at the back of it. In the afternoon sunshine it's a wonderful vista as you can see St Peter's Basilica, and the Eternal City, in the distance. It also gives you the opportunity to see the 11th green, 12th tee shots and looking down on the thousands of fans in attendance across the course. The tee box at the par 3, 13th hole, is another corking spot. You not only see that hole but also the 12th green and the driveable, par 4, 16th hole which is going to provide a lot of drama over the three days.
I get asked a lot what the atmosphere is like at a Ryder Cup. It's a completely unique experience and there are very few buzzes like it. You can feel the tension everywhere on the first morning so I've no idea how the players handle it! Thousands line the fairways and you hear these pockets of thunderous cheering, from the home fans, when a player sticks an approach close or holes a monster putt.
But there's also a huge advantage to watching the Ryder Cup at home. Maybe not quite the atmosphere, but you get to see every shot played. At the course you hear those cheers in the distance and wonder what you've missed. You can only follow one group, or stay on one hole, so there's a ton of golf that you just don't see. That's especially noticeable on the final day when you're wondering where the winning putt will come from. I remember in France a small group of us from Sky were with Stenson's group as it looked like he would seal it. But the whispers in the crowd soon realised that Molinari was going to do it. There was about a three minute gap between the matches finishing.
If you're lucky enough to be going to the Ryder Cup in September then enjoy every minute of it. Fueled by copious amounts of pasta, bring your comfiest shoes and some strong vocal chords because you're going to need them.