This year the USGA US Open at Torrey Pines golf course will have one big change and that is the fact that spectators have to keep their butts off the golf course and no we are not talking about their backside. In 2008 at Torrey Pines golf course, they have a strict no smoking policy and this marks the first smoke-free major.

For all non-smokers like myself, this is great news, as we do not want to be around other people who are smoking away and making our clothes stink and not to mention what we breath in. The young children at the US Open will also benefit from not having to breath someone’s smoke they exhale.

If you have been to the US Open or another golf event and are a non-smoker, you may have experienced having to move away from a good spot when a smoker moves near you and your children. If a spectator is caught smoking cigars or cigarettes at this year U.S. Open they face up to a $100 fine.

Some people will be very unhappy with this change and they could have the view “I thought we were supposed to have freedom to do what we want”. This kind of talk is open for debate and I am sure many of us will have different views.

As a golfer myself, when I am on a nice course there is nothing like the peace, quiet and fresh air of playing golf. The clubs hate cleaning up the discarded cigarettes and second-hand smoke is a serious health issue.

I am happy about this change? Of course.

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