The Guardians of the Ryder Cup are not for me

It’s become an itch I can’t scratch, an entity that constantly appears on my phone and won’t disappear.

Who I’m about to talk about call themselves (breathe in, Matt)… the Ryder Cup Guardians.

In their own words, they are “a group of incurable golf fans dedicated to securing Ryder Cup victory for Team Europe via the power of song”.

Insufferable might be another word.

You will have seen them. They are a group of men who dress in blue and yellow clothing and are usually found at the front of the 1st tee grandstand and darting around the golf course.

I visited the Ryder Cup Guardians website. I wanted at least to try and understand them. But I regretted it as soon as I saw their introductory clip.

As it went on, I was hiding inside my jumper. Listen to those chants. “Bjorn beats the USA”, “I think we’re in Rome now,” and “Gold” by Spandau Ballet with the main lyric replaced by Justin Rose.

The video could’ve easily passed as a comedy sketch and there’s no doubt a non-golf fan could watch it and conceivably believe it to be a parody.

I squinted my eyes as I watched the Guardians mastermind different songs about European golfers in an attempt to build a type of football-like atmosphere.

Their X (Twitter) account doesn’t make for better viewing either, where they have already planned one song for the 1st tee box at Marco Simone next week:

Have you spotted the @RyderGuardians at the Ryder Cup before? 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/75XolsetYw
— Ryder Cup (@rydercup) September 12, 2023

We’re the yellow-blue of Europe
We’re never gonna’ stop
With Donald as our captain
We’ll win the Ryder Cup
Seve was our hero
Now Rahmbo is our boy
But no one hits it better
Than Rory McIlroy – Ole, Ole, Ole

I’ll remember my earplugs if I reach the 1st tee box in Rome, especially if the proposed reincarnation of “Here Comes The Hotstepper”, featuring Sepp Straka, is anything to go by:

Here comes the Sepp Straka
(Ryder Cup)
He’s a magical golfa’,
(Ryder Cup)
Excuse me Team America
(Ryder Cup)
He’ll beat you like that

Counting down 24 days till @RyderCupEurope! what’s your #ryderphoto? Today, the @JonRahmpga song. “Do you come from Spain and hit the ball a mile? You do Rahm Rahm Rahm you do Rahm Rahm. Do you have big muscles and a lovely smile? You do Rahm Rahm… 😬😇😍👍🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/skfKDgXwnd
— Ryder Cup Guardians (@RyderGuardians) September 5, 2023

It really is a tough scene.

These exceptional players are talented enough to produce drama and excitement without the need for forced chants and cringeworthy outfits to create an atmosphere.

The Ryder Cup puts together two opposing sides and I strongly believe rivalry is the most important factor that grips our interest in sport.

But golf doesn’t have the tribalism of football and this is why I don’t understand the need for these songs.

The Ryder Cup Guardians want to create an atmosphere. I fully support that. Who doesn’t? The thunderclap is great and I love the interaction between the fans, players, captains and vice-captains at the opening tee shots.

I know this group has a lighthearted nature too, but in doing what they do, they hijack the experience of the 1st tee to sing their own shoe-horned songs that really don’t work.

I am usually against fun police views that resemble this column, such as football fans being criticised for over-celebrating goals.

Spectators pay a lot of money to watch their favourite athletes in the flesh and they should be allowed to enjoy themselves to the limit, including the guardians.

But I can’t help but find each song excruciating and pierce through me like a cold wind. Sorry, but the Guardians of the Ryder Cup aren’t for me.

FAQ

Who are the Ryder Cup Guardians?

The Ryder Cup Guardians are a group of European golf fans that first met at Nottingham University in 2002 and they were first inspired by Sam Torrance at the 2002 Ryder Cup at the Belfry.

They are a group that has largely become prominent in the grandstands and at the event in general since 2014 and write songs about various European Ryder Cup participants.

What do you make of this group of European Ryder Cup fans? Tell us on X, formerly Twitter!

Now read: What are the future Ryder Cup venues?

Matt Chivers

Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.