When the world's best golfers come to town, creativity becomes the ultimate ticket. At the PGA Championship in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, homeowners near Aronimink Golf Club have turned their backyards into the hottest—and cheapest—seats in the house.
Pat Concannon and his friends, two of whom flew in from Europe just for the major, didn't let a lack of official tickets stop them. Instead, they propped up a paint-splattered, decades-old wooden ladder and parked a Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck just a short putt from the temporary fence lining the first hole. From their DIY perch, they had a clear view of the action.
"This is the best seat in the house," Concannon said, grinning. "Everyone can watch it from over there. Not everyone can watch it from over here."
As the morning sun warmed the course, the group kept one eye on the fairway and another on their coolers. A quick beer run was in order before world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler made his way through their backyard view. "Make it quick," one friend shouted, "because I think Scottie Scheffler is coming next."
Cold beers in hand, they raised a toast to the day—and to the unobstructed, absolutely free view. Peeking over the fence like Wilson from Home Improvement, they watched the second round unfold just steps from Concannon's uncle's garage.
All around the course, enterprising homeowners have turned the tony neighborhood into a block party of epic proportions. Ladders, rented platforms, and even "sky decks" have popped up along the cart paths. The only rule? Respect the "quiet please" signs during play. But once the final putt drops, the volume gets cranked to 11. A Bruce Springsteen cover band—the E Street Shuffle Band—is set to take the stage, or rather, the lawn.
Some of these homeowners are actually Aronimink members who already paid over $1,000 each for official tickets. But for those looking to save a few bucks, the backyard experience offers something no grandstand can: front-row access with a side of tailgate energy.
Jim Hageney, who moved into his home overlooking the first hole two years ago, is in the middle of major renovations. As construction workers paused their lunch break near the chimney, they had a front-row seat to golf history—proving that sometimes, the best view doesn't come with a ticket stub.