There can be a lot to consider when attending a sports event. First and foremost, you need to know when and where it is, and whether its location and place on the calendar suit you. Once you’ve chosen, you’ve got to evaluate the ticket types and pricing on offer to see which fits your needs and budget, either via the primary ticket seller or your resale platform of choice. Here at Koobit, we’ll take you through each step of buying PGA Tour tickets so that you can be happy and confident with your purchase and focus on what really matters – attending the event itself!
- Choosing Which Event to Attend
- When Do PGA Tour Tickets Go on Sale?
- Where to Buy PGA Tour Tickets
- Types of PGA Tour Tickets Available
- PGA Tour Ticket Prices
- Ticket Delivery
- Planning Parking & Travel for a PGA Tour Event
- Booking Accommodation When Attending a PGA Tour Event
- Top Tips for Buying PGA Tour Tickets
Choosing Which Event to Attend
Including the majors, there are typically between 45 and 50 official PGA Tour events held each season, not to mention several others that are sanctioned or co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour. As such, there’s no shortage of events to choose from when considering your options. You can find a full guide to the PGA Tour calendar here.
The majority of the events take place in the United States, so if you’re based in the USA then you may not have too far to travel – you may even have a tournament taking place in your city, if not your state. Attending golf events typically requires early starts and late finishes to make the most of your day – rounds often tee off before 08:00 and play sometimes might not finish until 18:00 or later – so staying local can be very convenient where possible, otherwise it’s best to factor accommodation into your trip.
Several events are held internationally including competitions in the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, and Japan, among other locations, so if you live outside the USA or want to combine your trip with a holiday, these might be the ideal pick.
It may be that you’re hoping to see 1 or 2 players in particular, such as Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy. If you’re set on seeing your favourite golfer in action, you’ll want to check for updates to see if they’ve confirmed their attendance at the event you’re considering, although this could mean waiting until relatively late to buy your tickets. If you’d rather get your tickets, travel, and accommodation sorted early, choosing a high-profile event will significantly increase your chances of seeing your favourite golfer if they’re among the top players.
View the complete 2024 PGA Tour schedule here.
When Do PGA Tour Tickets Go on Sale?
PGA Tour ticket sales vary from event to event, but on average they tend to open between 3 and 6 months in advance of the tournament. Generally, the bigger or more high profile the event, the earlier tickets typically go on sale. Indeed, tickets for the majors usually become available close to a year in advance, often via a ballot that requires pre-registration. Here at Koobit, you can add an event to your favourites to receive a notification when tickets go on sale.
Some larger events will make hospitality or multi-day tickets available first and release single-day tickets later, but for many PGA Tour events everything will be put on sale at the same time. Many events launch their tickets at a discounted early bird price, so unless you’re waiting for a specific player to commit to the tournament, it’s almost always better to buy tickets sooner rather than later. That said, it’s worth noting that tickets rarely sell out at PGA Tour events due to the lack of capacity restrictions compared with attending an event in a seated venue, so even if you purchase them closer to the event, they’re likely to still be available.
Where to Buy PGA Tour Tickets
Primary Sellers
Although many PGA Tour events utilise Ticketmaster, the primary supplier varies from event to event and some tournaments even act as the primary seller via their own sales platform. Some suppliers will require you to sign up for an account and pre-registration is often required to enter ballots for tickets to the majors, but paid membership is not required.
Many PGA Tour ticket sales are online only these days, but some events still allow you to purchase tickets upon arrival at the gate, albeit often at a slightly higher price.
Resellers
Resale tickets are available for many PGA Tour events. This is particularly helpful with events such as the majors, where capacity is more limited; if you don’t manage to land tickets in the ballot, purchasing resale tickets can ensure you don’t miss out.
Here are some of the resellers that sell PGA Tour tickets:
Types of PGA Tour Tickets Available
Most PGA Tour events have just 2 kinds of ticket – general admission and hospitality. While there may be multiple hospitality areas that tickets can be purchased for, it’s generally a lot more straightforward than buying tickets for an in-stadium event where there can be a wide range of seating areas to choose from.
General Admission
Often referred to as Grounds or Gallery tickets, General Admission tickets provide entry into the tournament grounds on the day selected. This typically includes all public fan areas – which include concessions outlets, merchandise for purchase, and often activities to partake in – and grandstands on select holes.
These are the standard tickets that most attendees will buy, and they are invariably the most affordable on offer at any golf event. They allow complete flexibility; you can pick your favourite hole and watch each group as they pass through or follow your favourite player around the length of the course as they complete their round.
It is worth noting, however, that some courses are easier to get around than others, so you may need to be prepared to do a lot of walking and be on your feet for much of the day. Shelter from the elements can also be hard to come by, so prepare accordingly if hot weather or rain are forecast. On particularly popular holes, it may also be difficult to get a good view at times due to spectators standing in front of you, unless you’re in the front row behind the ropes.
Hospitality
Hospitality at PGA Tour events typically comes in the form of access to a pavilion or terrace overlooking a particular green or hole. These venues are usually covered and may be climate-controlled, open-air, or a mix of both, so they’re great options if you’d prefer to be sheltered from the elements during hot or wet weather. They usually contain a variety of seating options – tiered stadium-style seating, bar seating, or table seating – and provide an elevated view of the hole in question. Many feature all-inclusive food and/or beverages, although some events will have more affordable hospitality options where guests will still need to purchase refreshments but can do so from a more premium menu.
Some events will have just 1 hospitality option, while others may have several venues to choose from spread across multiple holes, usually the 16th, 17th, or 18th, but it will vary from tournament to tournament. These spaces are typically shared; private hospitality and chalets are also often available, but these are usually corporate options for large groups of people.
Sometimes the exact offerings – particularly in relation to food and beverages – will differ, otherwise the main aspect to consider is the location. The 18th green could be where the tournament is won or lost, while a short par-3 – which you may be able to see the entirety of, even from the green – can be the most exciting and have the most potential for holes-in-one.
The other differentiating factor can be the atmosphere of the hospitality venue itself. Some offer a more casual, sports-bar like experience, while others are more refined and luxurious – larger events with multiple hospitality options will usually have both vibes covered!
Although hospitality tickets invariably include general admission access and you’ll be free to wander the grounds as you please alongside the other spectators, it can be hard to leave your seat if you’ve grabbed a good spot – particularly if the inclusive food and beverages are flowing – so in the morning at least you may find yourself having to wait for the action to reach you. However, many hospitality venues are equipped with TVs showcasing the event live, so you won’t feel like you’re missing out too much.
PGA Tour Ticket Prices
PGA Tour ticket prices are relatively consistent on a week-to-week basis, but they will vary based on the size and prestige of the event. Events such as the majors and The Players Championship are usually more expensive to attend, while smaller or alternate events – lower-profile tournaments held the same weekend as a larger, more popular event, such as the Puerto Rico Open – are typically much more affordable.
Overall, the PGA Tour is not a particularly cheap series to attend on average. However, compared to an NFL or NBA game, where in some cases the cheapest seats will be well in excess of $100, it’s better value, particularly when you consider that golf events provide a full day of sporting entertainment from early morning right through to late afternoon or evening. It’s usually free for children to enter as well, so it can be much more affordable for a family day out compared with other sporting events.
Tickets are priced per day, although most events also offer multi-day tickets either for the entire tournament or the weekend; these invariably provide a cost-saving per day. Many events will make their tickets available at a discounted early-bird price that will increase as the tournament draws near.
Depending on the event and the kind of ticket you’re purchasing, single-day prices could range as low as USD $25 or exceed $600. Most primary and secondary sellers add additional service fees per ticket or a delivery fee per order, which can also add to the overall cost of a ticket.
Ticket Prices by Ticket Type
As mentioned above, General Admission or Grounds tickets are the most affordable on offer at any PGA Tour event. Prices vary from event to event, but on average at most PGA Tour events you can expect to pay between $60 and $80.
Hospitality is much the same with larger and more prestigious events typically having more expensive packages on offer, and the cost is also determined by the benefits that are included. If a hospitality pass is akin to an “upgraded” ticket that grants access to a venue but refreshments still need to be purchased, you can expect to pay between $100 and $200 at most events. All-inclusive hospitality generally ranges from $200 to $600 per day.
Corporate hospitality might range from $10,000 to $80,000, but these packages usually span the entire tournament and include large numbers of people.
Ticket Prices by Country
Most PGA Tour events take place in the United States, and you’ll see the full price ranges described above across the spectrum of high-profile, prestigious tournaments and smaller or alternate events.
Several events take place internationally, however, across the likes of Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and the United Kingdom. Tickets for these events are typically sold in their local currencies, and they’re often somewhat cheaper than those taking place in the USA.
Indeed, the average general admission price will usually be between USD $20 and $50. Hospitality also tends to be slightly cheaper on average, ranging from $100 to $400.
Finding Cheap Tickets
If you’re searching for cheaper tickets and don’t mind watching an event that may not feature the biggest and best names that the PGA Tour has to offer, smaller or alternate events can be a great way to get the PGA Tour experience without breaking the bank.
Ticket prices are usually cheaper on Thursday and Friday compared with the weekend, and cheaper still for practice or pro-am days on Tuesday or Wednesday if those days are open for the public to attend; at some tournaments, these days are completely free. If you plan on attending multiple days, full-tournament tickets (often called weekly tickets or season tickets) or weekend passes offer a cost-saving per day. Buying tickets early will usually net you the best price, too, since many events employ early-bird ticket pricing.
What’s more, children often get into PGA Tour events for free or at a discount, which can make attending as a family a much more affordable prospect than attending other sporting events. Members of the military and seniors are occasionally entitled to free or discounted tickets also.
To help you get the best price possible, Koobit compares prices from a range of primary and secondary sellers, so you can make an informed purchasing decision.
Ticket Delivery
These days, most PGA Tour events distribute tickets digitally as E-tickets, although some still allow physical tickets to either be printed off or picked up at Will Call, which is usually located by an event’s main gate.
Some events may distribute tickets immediately after you make the purchase, while others will send them out a few weeks prior to the tournament; be sure to check when you buy your tickets.
Planning Parking & Travel for a PGA Tour Event
Most PGA Tour events provide either on-site parking for purchase or a Park & Ride system with free daily roundtrip shuttle transportation. Parking is sometimes included with the cost of a ticket or it may need to be purchased separately; although some events will allow you to pay for parking on arrival, it’s usually quicker and more convenient to purchase it in advance where possible to guarantee your space. For most events, parking is either free or relatively cheap, often costing $10 to $20 per day. To minimise costs and ease congestion as much as possible, carpooling is always recommended.
Whether you’re driving, utilising a taxi/rideshare service, or getting a lift from friends and family (most events have a designated pick-up and drop-off area), arrival by car is almost always the most convenient method of transport. Many golf courses are out in the country or on the outskirts of towns and cities, where public transport – particularly in the United States – can be hit or miss, or in some cases virtually non-existent. That said, some popular events will run shuttles from local train stations or other services. Be sure to check an event’s Travel & Parking tab on Koobit for further details.
Booking Accommodation When Attending a PGA Tour Event
Unless you live locally to the course, it can be very convenient to book nearby accommodation when attending a golf event. To get the most out of your day, it’s best to arrive very early in the morning; for some events, gates open as early as 06:30 with the action teeing off at around 07:00, so being based close by will help get you there on time. Likewise, play may not finish until after 16:00 or even 18:00, or there may be post-round entertainment such as live music, so it can also be a late finish as well.
Fortunately, many golf courses have one or more hotels relatively close by, or even on-site if part of a golf resort. Airbnbs and other such local accommodations may also be available. These are likely to fill up quickly with fellow spectators, however, so early booking is recommended. As with many annual sports events, you may also find that local accommodation prices are increased during the week of the tournament, and you’ll pay extra for the convenience of being located close to the course.
Top Tips for Buying PGA Tour Tickets
- Buying tickets early will usually net you the best price
- Weekday tickets are often cheaper than weekend tickets
- Kids are usually free – bring the family!
- Hospitality tickets can be great for ensuring you’re sheltered from the elements and usually include food and beverages
- Golf rounds have an early start and a relatively late finish – stay close by if you can
- Arrival by car is almost always the most convenient method of transport