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Jordan Spieth of the United States hits his third shot on the 18th green during the final round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 23, 2017 in Southport, England
It’s been very hard to ignore the decaying decorum of golf fans who have cast a shadow over a number of high-profile tournaments in recent years. That boorish behavior has primarily been limited to events in the United States, but the British Open isn’t taking any chances by rolling out a Code of Conduct fans will be expected to abide by at Royal Birkdale.
Golf has historically been viewed as a “gentleman’s game” where players are expected to abide by a certain set of rules (both written and unspoken) that govern their play and etiquette on the course.
That code is also supposed to apply to spectators who get the opportunity to watch a tournament unfold in person, and while most people are aware of how they’re expected to behave while in attendance, there has undoubtedly been a shift on the respect front that has coincided with a recent spike in popularity that has led to many golf purists rallying behind the “Shrink The Game” mantra.
Complaints about unruly fans are certainly nothing new, as people have been bemoaning post-shot cries of “MASHED POTATOES!” and “GET IN THE HOLE!” for decades.
However, there’s been an increase in palpable malevolence in the gallery over the past few years, which was a major issue at the Ryder Cup in 2025 and reared its ugly head on Long Island yet again at Wyndham Clark’s expense during the U.S. Open in June.
There haven’t really been any major issues with crowds in the United Kingdom, but the folks who oversee the British Open are still going out of their way to push back.
Fans at the British Open will have to abide by a new Code of Conduct that’s being rolled out for the British Open
The Masters is viewed as the gold standard when it comes to keeping spectators in line, as the powers that be at Augusta National do not mess around when it comes to ensuring the “patrons” who earn the right to walk its hallowed ground stay on their best behavior at risk of ejection (and, in all likelihood, a lifetime ban).
It would be a stretch to suggest bad behavior at golf tournaments is a uniquely American phenomenon, but there tends to be a fairly stark difference in the atmosphere when it comes to big events that are played in the United Kingdom.
That includes the British Open (which is officially known as “The Open”), which will unfold at Royal Birkdale next week. The major is overseen by the R&A, and the governing body made it clear it will not tolerate unruly idiocy by introducing “The Open Commitment” ahead of the tournament.
The organization noted the new code of conduct was instituted in the interest of “preserving the spirit of The Open by showing consideration for their fellow fans as well as players, staff, volunteers and the local community throughout the Championship,” and it consists of five core principles:
• Respect the Players
• Respect the Links
• Respect Each Other
• Be Aware
• Enjoy Responsibly
Most of the guidelines boil down to common sense, but there are certain clauses that point to issues at the core of the crackdown.
That includes “threatening behaviour directed at players, officials, staff, volunteers or spectators,” “foul language, sexual harassment, or any discriminatory abuse on the grounds of gender, age, race, disability, sexuality, or religion,” and a warning that “behaviour that disrupts the experience of others will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the course.”
According to the BBC, the rules will be driven home by signs at Royal Birkdale that hammer the core tenets home, and you have to wonder if this will set a precedent other tournaments will embrace moving forward.