Tips to take in the Honda Classic

My trepidation about attending my first golf tournament at last year’s Honda Classic helped me avoid committing any cardinal sins of golf, and I had a great time.

Here’s what you should know if you’re attending the Honda Classic for the first time.

1. Parking: Make sure you have $10 cash for general parking at Dyer Park on Haverhill Road and the Beeline Highway. This is a good time to pay attention to where you parked; you will be spent at the end of the day from all the walking you did, and you aren’t going to feel like wandering around the uneven grass (and mud if it rains) looking for your car.

Shuttles will drop you off at the main tournament entrance. There was hardly any wait in the morning last year.

Bonus: Drivers of Hondas and Acuras park for free.

Uber and taxi drop-off and pickup is conveniently located at the bottom of the primary valet loop of PGA National. I know this, because I saw the Uber/ Sarah Peters Lyft drivers waiting last year when I was disoriented and looking for the bus back to media parking.

If you’re planning on spending more than a day at the tournament, $50 parking can be purchased for the week in advance.

2. The bag-size rule: Many spectators last year seemed to be caught off guard by restrictions on bag sizes. If you’re bringing a bag with you, the people manning the shuttle will make sure it’s an allowable size or make you put it back in the car.

If it’s opaque, the bag can’t be bigger than 6 inches by 6 inches by 6 inches. Clear tote bags or other items can be larger — 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches. A clear, 1-gallon bag containing food also may be allowed at the tournament’s discretion.

If you bring collapsible chairs, leave the cover at home. The same goes for the binocular case and umbrella cover.

Strollers are OK, and if you’re diabetic or have other medical reasons for needing supplies, the necessary items will be permitted after inspection at the admission gates.

3. Break the cell phone addiction: Don’t be that person whose cell phone rings or whose text alert goes off as Adam Scott or Rickie Fowler is about to take a swing. First of all, it makes you a jerk. Second, if you do it more than once, you will have your phone confiscated until you leave.

Cell phones must be on silent at all times. If you absolutely must make or take a call, you can do so in one of nine “phone zones.” Texting or checking email is allowed elsewhere, but not when players are in position.

Photos are not allowed in competition areas during official rounds. They’re OK during practice and pro-ams.

No audio or video recordings are allowed.

Other pro tips: Wear sunscreen, drink lots of water, and avoid loose clothing that will make a lot of noise flapping in the wind. Stand (or sit) still until a golfer finishes hitting the ball. Make sure you stay behind the gallery ropes.

Most of all, have fun!