From guarding golf legends to navigating the challenges of high-stakes tournaments, Darryl Reid offers a unique glimpse into the world of elite security.
Journalist Kelly Carmody caught up with him to find out about his most memorable moments, the lighter side of working with icons like Greg Norman, and his role in golf and event security for LIV Golf.
What was it like working closely with a golfing legend like Greg Norman? Any standout moments or interesting stories from your time as his security?
I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Greg Norman. It was a chance meeting in 1994 at Royal Sydney Golf Club that turned into a long-term friendship and gave me the opportunity to create a career within the golf industry.
At the beginning I was unaware of his immense popularity both here and abroad, however, I quickly learnt that there were certain areas on a golf course and in the public arena where he just couldn’t go because he would be mobbed by autograph hunters and adoring fans.
Things like having a quiet birthday dinner with close friends at a Sydney restaurant quickly turned into a major incident, with police being called and photographers being ejected because they were tipped off that Greg would be dining there.
What’s something you learned about him that most people wouldn’t know just by watching him on TV or during a tournament?
His work ethic on and off the course was enormous, Greg would arrive at the golf course two hours before his tee time, stretch, practice on the driving range, and then play a five-hour round before going to a media conference and then back to the driving range.
I can remember standing there some days until dark watching him hit balls and refining his game and thinking to myself why, until I realised that his own expectations were far greater than that of anybody else’s and that is why he was world number one for 331 weeks.
We all know Greg Norman is a phenomenal golfer, but did you ever get the chance to play a round with him? If so, how did you hold up against The Shark?
One thing I learnt very early with Greg is never give him the opportunity to get one up on you, and my game (which is very ordinary) was never to a standard to even come close.
There were several times I did play at social days when Greg was in attendance and let’s just say “His feedback wasn’t positive” or printable.
Given the intense environment of professional golf tournaments, what are the key challenges in ensuring the safety and security of players, especially during high-profile events like those hosted by LIV Golf?
One of my key roles at LIV Golf events is to set up golf course and the security requirements to dictate and manage how players circulate around the golf course and transverse from green to tee on each hole safely.
It is also important to have a golf course set up to accommodate the crowd capacity from ingress at the entry gates, ease of navigating the golf course to egress to car parks and public transport. The safety of both our players and fans is paramount to the successful staging of a LIV Golf tournament.
Spectators are required to go through a processing procedure on entry to inhibit the entry of banned items to create a safe environment for all.
We have a fully operational Event Control Centre onsite which is manned by all emergency services agencies and high-level event staff and security operatives.
Each playing group has designated security operatives walking with them and response groups on call if required. The planning of these events starts six months prior and can include 170 security staff and 60 police.
The LIV Golf tour has taken you to some incredible places this year. Which destinations stood out to you the most, and why?
Golf in general has given me and my family the opportunity to travel the world to some amazing destination, while I have just spent 10 weeks in the UK working on LIV GOLF UK presented by JCB, it’s not until after the event you have some time to take in your surrounds and the English summer is not a favourite.
On our way home we spent a week in London exploring the culture and historic landmarks and a week in Abu Dhabi which we really enjoyed.
I think the most memorable trip was to the Bahamas where the people and the culture were amazing, immersing ourselves into the local culture and experiencing their way of life was very memorable not to mention the restaurants, beaches and crystal clear warm oceans.
While managing security, do you get a chance to explore the local culture or scenery? What’s been your favourite off-the-course experience during your travels?
1997 Presidents Cup in New York, I had the opportunity to attend a player’s welcome party event and listen to two US Presidents talk (Bill Clinton and George W Bush) on the 101st floor of the World Trade Center, amazing experience, and the banter between the two presidents was very funny and entertaining.
Riding a snowmobile at 11000ft in the Colorado mountains was an extreme adventure and something I will never forget and the last trip to Abu Dhabi where we went sand dune driving and rode camels, there was something about the desert that struck me, it was so peaceful and calm, probably what I needed after 10 weeks in the UK.
How do you strike a balance between maintaining stringent security measures and ensuring a positive, welcoming experience for fans attending LIV Golf tournaments?
Finding the right security company to provide a festival-based security service that has the experience and manpower to service the event, remembering our demographic is 25-45 while other golf tournaments demographics are based on 55-65.
LIV Golf is purposely trying to reinvigorate the golf scene across the globe by introducing a younger audience to the game and adding at least one major concert act after play during the weekend.
My philosophy is to treat people the way you want to be treated, be polite but firm when required and be proactive not reactive.
We provide the security companies with a security plan and brief that they will be required to implement, we will support them through this process, so they deliver the LIV Golf event look and feel.
In your experience, what has been the most challenging thing you’ve had to manage during an event, and how did your team successfully navigate it?
A colleague and I went to Argentina with Leyton Hewitt and the Australian Davis Cup team to protect Leyton, Leyton was the most loathed athlete to visit Argentina due to his ongoing rivalry with David Nalbandian, also playing in the Davis Cup tie for Argentina.
The Argentinian Government had constructed a purposely built outdoor stadium for the event in one of the poorest areas in Buenos Aires, which meant we had to have police escorts in and out each day as protestors from the local communities would block the roads in protest of the money spent on the venue.
When they opened the venue they invited 1000 people from the local community to attend the opening and watch a friendly match between Leyton and David hosted by the mayor of Buenos Aires.
Against our advice, Leyton agreed to play, and we went to the court and found the stands full of public and people everywhere on the court.
We got Leyton to the Mayoral stand and watch as they tried to clear the people from the court and get control but to not avail, and then I noticed that the local security guards had left their positions and people were pouring down the stairs onto the court and making their way towards our position.
We placed Leyton between us and headed for the player exit fending off people who were abusing Leyton and trying to block our exit.
Once we had Leyton out of the stadium and secure, it then became an international incident and conversations turned to whether the Australian team should continue.
After several meetings with officials from both sides, we came up with a plan to reconfigure the stadium to block access to the court by fans and bring in more police to manage the crowds.
While we got through the week, it was one of the most hostile crowds I have ever come across and Australia didn’t win a rubber and finished the week 0-5
What’s the most memorable or amusing thing you’ve witnessed while working security at a golf event? Any funny interactions with players or fans?
One thing that astounds me is that spectators want to dive into a lake or pond at a golf event, given that all the water runs off the course into them and the amount of chemicals they use to bring the courses up for tournament week must be sitting in that water.
At the Australia Open last year, a spectator dived into the lake on 18 green three times after play to the delight of the crowd, and when he finely emerged, he was walked to the exit gate by security staff. When asked had he drank the water he said, “yep had a couple of mouth fulls” when I mentioned the chemical content in the water he laughed it off, but I think it gave him something to think about while trying to get a cab home in his soaking wet clothes.
Do you ever get the chance to hit the links yourself during events? If so, how would you rate your golf game compared to the pros?
I haven’t played golf in 18 months due to my schedule, and given I spend over half the year on the golf course, I don’t feel the need. I rate my game as zero to the pros, just because you watch a lot of golf doesn’t mean it makes you a better golfer, as all golfers would attest to.
If you weren’t managing security and logistics, what role in the world of golf would you love to take on? Would you prefer being a caddie, commentator, or perhaps even a player?
From the three options you mentioned, I think commentator would suit me, as I have watched enough golf over the past three decades to know a little something about the game.
What’s in store for the remainder of the year?
I am working on LIV Golf Adelaide now as it has moved to an earlier time slot — February, 14-15, 2025
In 2025, I will possibly head back to the UK in July and take on another event in Asia time permitting.
This story originally featured in Betty & Don Magazine 2024. Find the full magazine, here: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/features-and-magazines/betty-don-magazine-2024/