What went wrong with Solheim Cup ‘nightmare’ shuttle bus situation?

Our Dylan Dethier is at home. Our Zephyr Melton is at the Solheim Cup. They break down the morning shuttle bus debacle from Friday in Virginia.

Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): Let’s start with the good news, Z: Many thousands of people wanted to go to the Solheim Cup this morning! The bad news: it didn’t seem to work out super well for ’em.

I didn’t set an alarm, but because I’m a sick individual I woke up preposterously early this morning, a little before 4 a.m. in Seattle, and felt the urge to flip on the Solheim Cup. After all, that opening-tee scene is one of the greatest moments in golf. So I was a bit dismayed to find a less-than-full grandstand on my screen.

When I slid open Twitter, things only seemed more dire — reports of shuttle-bus nightmares were everywhere. One particularly poignant four-word description: “Thousands at Jiffy Lube.”

How’d it feel on the ground at that point?

Zephyr Melton, assistant editor (@zephyrmelton): It felt pretty empty out there when I stepped on the tee box around 6:45. The music was pumping and the fans that were there brought plenty of energy, but the overall vibes were low and a little off. It reminded me of some of the Covid sporting events that were hosted with limited capacity. When the stands are half-empty, it just doesn’t have the same juice.

Dethier: You talked to spectators who’d been shuttled in. What was their experience? How were people feeling?

Melton: In one word: pissed. Nearly everyone getting off the shuttles had a sour look on their faces, and their stories all sounded similar. They’d woken up and arrived at the parking lot early only to be met with a huge line and not nearly enough buses. It was taking many of them between 1.5 and 2 hours to get through the line and onto a shuttle bus. And these were the ones who’d actually made it!

Dethier: So — what on Earth happened? Was there some unexpected twist that organizers couldn’t have seen coming? Or was this just a big-time miscalculation?

Melton: It seems as though it was a pretty huge fumble on the part of the organizers — but the snafu isn’t a surprise for many who have been here throughout the week. After the opening ceremony yesterday there were similar troubles for folks trying to get back to their cars. If this were a course hosting a big-time event for the first time, it’d be a little easier to show some grace. But RTJ Golf Club has hosted events like this plenty of times (four Presidents Cups and one PGA Tour event). The playbook for success was there, it seems as though they just didn’t utilize it.

Dethier: On TV it really looked like the crowds filled out as groups hit the back nine. As I type this the afternoon groups are teeing off and the crowds look awesome. Was that the vibe on the ground?

Melton: Oh, yeah. Once fans actually got to the course, the energy certainly picked up. And the first-tee energy for the afternoon matches was electric. It’s a shame we didn’t get the same scene for the opening tee shots.

Dethier: That’s great — but still, I can’t help but wonder how many people turned back and went home or heard about the lines and never came at all. Were the players aware? What’d they have to say about the situation?

Melton: I spoke with a few players after the morning session, and they did admit that the first tee felt a bit empty. They felt bad for the fans that were stuck in line, but they tried to keep things positive and commended them for the energy they brought once they got on the course. 

Dethier: In its statement the LPGA said it has made “significant changes to our transportation system to mitigate these issues moving forward.” If you’re a fan and you have tickets for the weekend, do you think the situation will be resolved?

Melton: It’s too early to tell. Organizers are attempting to make things right, but being reactive instead of proactive has put them in a tough spot. Remaking the logistics of the event overnight isn’t exactly feasible. Things will likely get better, but it remains to be seen how much better.

Dethier: Oh boy. Fingers crossed. Let’s hope that by tomorrow talking about the usual juicy stuff — conceded putts, botched pairings, things like that — and we can leave shuttle buses in the rearview.