What Does "Mashed Potatoes" Mean in Golf?

Ever been watching a golf tournament on TV, seen a pro absolutely crush a drive, and then heard someone in the crowd yell, MASHED POTATOES!? If you've been left scratching your head, you're not alone. This article will explain exactly where that bizarre phrase came from, what it means, and how it became one of golf’s most well-known (and sometimes controversial) traditions. We’ll also touch on proper fan etiquette so you know how to add to the atmosphere without disrupting the pros.

So, What Does "Mashed Potatoes" Actually Mean?

At its core, yelling "Mashed Potatoes" in golf has absolutely nothing to do with food. It’s a completely random phrase shouted by a spectator, almost always immediately after a player makes contact on a long tee shot. The shout happens while the ball is still climbing high in the air, long before it lands. It has a single purpose: to be heard on the television broadcast.

You won’t hear it after a putt or a short chip shot. The shout is reserved for those powerful, awe-inspiring moments when a player launches a driver into the stratosphere. It has become a kind of cultural signature in the modern golf world - so much so that its origin story is now a piece of golf folklore itself.

The Famous Origin Story: A Plan Hatched at a Golf Tournament

Unlike some sports traditions that are lost to time, we know exactly who started the "Mashed Potatoes" shout and why. The credit goes to a golf fan named Andrew Widmar. The stage was the 2011 Chevron World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, California, an event hosted by Tiger Woods.

As the story goes, Widmar was at the tournament with his friends, and his mother had given him a mission: get on TV. She jokingly told him to do something to get noticed. Taking this as a challenge, Widmar and his friends brainstormed ideas. They knew the generic shouts like "Get in the hole!" or "You da man!" were overplayed and tired. They wanted something that would stand out.

Widmar landed on "mashed potatoes." He figured the phrase was long and distinct enough that even if the TV cameras cut to the player's follow-through, his shout would be audible in the background sound. It was goofy, unexpected, and met all the criteria for a memorable moment.

He waited for his chance. On the 18th tee, Tiger Woods himself stepped up to hit his drive. As the powerful crack of the driver echoed through the course, Widmar took a deep breath and belted it out: "MASHED POTATOES!"

It worked. The shout was clear as day on the broadcast. His friends erupted in laughter, his mom saw him on TV, and an odd modern golf tradition was born. A video of the moment went viral, and from that day forward, copycat shouters started appearing at PGA Tour events everywhere.

Why Did "Mashed Potatoes" Catch On?

The phrase's success wasn't just luck, there was some amateur broadcasting logic behind Widmar's choice. Its popularity skyrocketed for a few distinct reasons:

• It's Long and Understandable: A quick "Go!" or "Yeah!" can get lost in the noise. "Mashed potatoes" is polysyllabic and has distinct phonetic sounds, making it easy to pick up on a microphone, even from a distance.
• Perfect Timing: The shout is delivered during the "dead air" after impact when the only sound is the crowd's initial reaction. This gives it a clear audio window before the commentators begin describing the shot.
• Sheer Randomness: Part of the humor is how delightfully out of place it is. Golf is a game of quiet intensity and tradition. Juxtaposing that with a shout about a common thanksgiving side dish gave it a viral-like, meme-able quality that people found funny and wanted to replicate.
• The Copycat Effect: Once the original clip became famous, other fans wanted to be "the mashed potatoes guy" at their event. It became a a kind of inside joke among golf fans, though its novelty would soon Tturn into a source of division within the community.

Over the years, it inspired other food-related yells. You might occasionally hear a "Cheeseburger!" or a "Baba Ghanoush!", but none have ever had the staying power of the original starchy chant.

The Great "Mashed Potatoes" Debate: Is It Good for the Game?

Not everyone is a fan of the tuber-y outburst. In fact, many players, broadcasters, and traditional golf purists find it irritating. The debate over whether these shouts help or hurt the game has been going on for years.

The Case Against Distracting Shouts

For professional golfers, focus is everything. The golf swing is a finely tuned athletic motion that requires immense concentration. While fans are encouraged to clap and cheer after a good shot, a sudden, loud yell a split-second after impact can still be jarring.

Here's why many in the sport dislike it:

• It’s Distracting: Players like Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy have been vocal about their frustration. A loud shout can rattle them during their follow-through or as they are trying to watch the flight of their ball. Some players have even backed off a shot or glared into the crowd after hearing someone prepping to yell.
• It Can Come Too Early: Sometimes, an overeager fan will yell before the player even hits the ball, which is a major breach of etiquette that can directly affect the outcome of a shot.
• It Feels Selfish: Many see the shouting as a fan’s attempt to make the moment about themselves rather than the player. Their goal is getting 15 seconds of fame on television, not celebrating the golf shot.
• It’s Unoriginal: What was once a clever, funny, and original moment has become a tired, repetitive trope for many regular viewers and players who hear it at nearly every tournament.

The Case For "Mashed Potatoes" as Harmless Fun

On the other side of the fairway, some argue the shouts are just harmless fun that add a bit of personality and youthful energy to a game often perceived as stuffy and old-fashioned.

Here's the argument for it:

• It Shows Fan Engagement: People yelling (however ridiculously) are people who are invested and excited. The roar of the crowd is part of the appeal of live sports, and this can be seen as a new generation’s version of it.
• It Modernizes the Game: Golf is always looking for ways to attract a younger audience. These viral, meme-worthy moments, while sometimes silly, make the sport more relatable and less intimidating to newcomers.
• It's Usually Harmless: Proponents argue that as long as the shout comes well after impact, it does no real harm and is just part of the live sporting atmosphere.

Gallery Etiquette 101: Your Role as a Supportive Spectator

As a golf coach, I believe that being a great fan means respecting the game and the athletes. Cheering and showing excitement is fantastic - that energy feeds the players! But it has to be done at the right time. If you’re heading to a tournament, think of yourself as a welcomed guest on the players' "office."

Here’s a simple guide to being a great a fan:

1. Complete Silence During the Swing: From the moment a player stands over their ball to the moment they make contact, the crowd should be silent. No talking, no rustling bags, and definitely no shouting. This is the golden rule of golf..
2. Wait for Impact: Hold your applause and cheers until after the ball has been struck. For the "mashed potatoes" types, the etiquette dictates waiting until the ball is well in the air. This minimizes the chance of startling the player during their an important part of the swing motion.
3. Know the Situation: If a player has hit a poor shot or is in a tense moment of a tournament, it's best to show support a with respectful applause, rather than a joke. Read the room. Are they enjoying this?
4. Respect the Players' Calls for Quiet: If a player or marshal puts their hands up for silence, heed the call immediately. This is not a suggestion, it's a a respectful and required gesture on the golf tour

Ultimately, showing your enthusiasm is a great part of the sporting experience. Just remember that it should enhance the moment, not hijack it. When you balance excitement with respect for the players' focus, everyone wins.

Final Thoughts

Understanding golf’s quirky phrases like "mashed potatoes" reveals a modern tradition born from a fan's fun idea that went viral. Whether seen as a fun expression of fan culture or a distracting annoyance to the players, it's now a recognized sound on the PGA Tour, showing just how much fan culture can impact a professional sport.

While understanding golf traditions is fun, putting that same tour-level knowledge into your own game is what makes playing so rewarding. We built Caddie AI to give you that kind of confidence on every shot, whether it’s advising on the right club, helping with on course strategy, planning how to approach the green with your shots or even analyzing a tricky lie you’ve taken a a picture of - so you can fully commit and hit a shot that is worthy of a great reaction.

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