Police say if you don't need to be in the area -- keep out.
It took hours for people to get into the Crooked Stick Golf Club Thursday -- and Friday is expected to be worse.
Day 1 of the BMW Championship and drivers, golf-lovers or not, are experiencing a logistic nightmare.
“[I waited] literally 90 minutes,” says Bob Rose, a golf fan. “Everybody's selling tickets along Meridian Street where normally the traffic is usually 60 miles per hour [but] no it's, ‘I have tickets! I have tickets! I have tickets!’”
It's mostly because of the location of the course. Crooked Stick is surrounded by residential areas and there are not a lot of ins and outs to avoid this area. Organizers are expecting more than 30-thousand people to be out there during the weekend.
John and Jenny Watkins were stuck in traffic for nearly two hours on the way there. The couple drove from Coldwater, Michigan to see Hunter Mayhem play.
“Worse traffic I’ve seen going into a PGA tournament. We've done this for six, seven tour events all over the country and have not seen anything like this.” says John. “We've never missed a hole of his in six years. We missed four holes today.”
“This isn't the best location, no,” says Dan Rose, a golf fan. “It's amazing when you see all the cars in the parking lot. You don't realize out in the course, but here, you realize how many people are here.”
Heavy traffic has already claimed one victim. Carmel police officer, Officer Cody Barlow, was hit by an intoxicated driver while directing traffic along the general parking entrance.
“He's got some severe lacerations through his arm, an injury to his arm, and some bumps and bruises,” says Lt. Jeff Horner from the Carmel Police Department. “Thankfully no broken bones or anything serious,”
With more than 100 officers on traffic and security, police say they're adjusting their plans as they go.
Towne Road from 106th to 116th will be restricted from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm during the tournament to allow shuttle buses to the course go through. Only neighbors and school traffic will be allowed through that road during those times.
With Greek Fest gearing up for their first day on Friday, it'll be even busier.
“Tomorrow morning we're coming in early,” says Watkins. “It's going to be a nightmare.”
For the latest traffic updates, check out the ISP’s Facebook and Twitter page.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Indiana-State-Police-Public-Information-Office/119531358091471?ref=ts
