Marshals aim to thwart Ryder Cup stalkers

A special team of Ryder Cup stewards will ensure autograph hunters and would-be stalkers are kept well away from top players like Tiger Woods at this weekend’s event.

The uniformed Player Care marshals will carefully escort the European and US golfers around their hotels and the K Club course in Co Kildare.

The 800 highly-trained marshals, drawn from more than a dozen countries, will also be vigilant for spectators trying to steal Ryder Cup memorabilia like flags and signs.

Chief Marshal David O’Hora said: “Player Care marshals will be on duty from dawn until dusk and will transport and escort the players to and from the hotel, the clubhouse, the practice facilities, the media centre for interviews and be available to transport players from the course whenever the matches finish.

“Their role is also to ensure that the players are not unduly hindered by autograph hunters and well wishers.”

Up to 400 static marshals will steward tee boxes, greens and also have ball-spotting duties at Ireland’s biggest-ever sporting event.

Co Kildare native Mr O’Hora attended two previous Ryder Cups to study the massive marshalling operation in progress.

He added: “We have planned meticulously for the occasion and have assembled the best team of marshals that you could hope for.”

The marshals, which include 140 women, have been drawn from Britain, the US, Australia, Canada, the Bahamas, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Italy and Sweden.

Their role is vital to the overall success of the event. They will all work gruelling 12-hour shifts for six days between tomorrow and Sunday.

“All are dedicated and committed to helping out at the matches and they all love the game of golf,” Mr O’Hora told author Brian Cox in ’Ryder Cup Ireland’ - a new book on the tournament being published tomorrow.

Resort superintendent Gerry Byrne also revealed in the book that course designer Arnold Palmer stunned locals in Courtney’s Pub in Lucan with a surprise visit one evening.

“The locals were totally in awe of the man. Mr Palmer stayed the best part of four hours, chatting, exchanging stories and signing autographs for everybody,” Mr Byrne said.

“Ceilidh dancing, singing and merriment were the order of the evening.”.

“What Arnold Palmer did on that one evening is still remembered and spoken about,” retired school principal Mr Cox said.

“Nothing will surpass the Ryder Cup in terms of its prestige, worldwide interest and true sportsmanship.”

The book also lists off statistics on the biennial event.

In total, almost 10,000 people will be working across the 550-acre K Club campus in catering, first aid, policing, media, parking and corporate hospitality.

There will be grandstand seating for 15,000 spectators with seven big screens erected around the course.

More than 60,000 meals and 350,000 gallons of fresh drinking water will be consumed during the week.

Up to 5,000 VIPs and businesspeople will be availing of corporate hospitality in the tented village.

The event will also have an extensive waste-management plan with 500 wire bins, 280 wheelie bins, 100 Euro bins, 50 dumpmasters and 9,600 toilet rolls.

In a massive security operation, gardaí will be throwing a 2km cordon around the Straffan area closing up to a dozen local roads for eight days.