When historic Oakmont Country Club plays host to the 107th U.S. Open tomorrow, golf spectators will have to abide by a set of rules, regulations and expectations unlike any other in the sports world.

The rowdiness and fervor usually on hand Sunday afternoons at Heinz Field are a far cry from the atmosphere that will set in when the U.S. Open golfers tee off.

Chanting the name of your favorite golfer for encouragement? Never.

Snapping a once-in-a-lifetime picture of superstars such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson? Don't count on it, because cameras and cell phones are among the list of several forbidden items at the U.S. Open as well as at most other professional golf tournaments.

Etiquette has been as much a part of golf over the years as fairways and 9-irons. It goes far beyond the type of sportsmanship that is exhibited, or at least should be exhibited, on and around basketball courts, hockey rinks and baseball diamonds. Appropriate golf etiquette can be a key to having an enjoyable watching or playing experience.

Barbara Puett, six-time winner of the Austin City Women's Championship and co-author of the book "Golf Etiquette," said it's important for newcomers to the sport to understand that how to act while watching and playing golf are two separate entities.

"Our focus on it was to teach people how to play fast," she said. "So many people will say, 'I don't play seriously. I just play for fun,' and we say 'I eat food for fun but I don't [just] shove it in my mouth.' There's a certain kind of etiquette. These poor new players ... their only model for golf is watching it on TV, and on TV they can take all the time they want, playing for thousands of dollars."

Puett said proper golf etiquette involves a wide selection of expectations, from knowing how many practice swings to take before a tee shot to knowing when and how loud to cheer after witnessing a masterful golf shot.

"[Fans] will cheer and clap when Tigers Woods makes a putt," she said. "So they know the appropriate time. I think the standing over the ball and the silence as you stand there makes everyone be quiet, whereas in football or basketball, people are running up and down the court."

"I think Tiger has brought a lot of enthusiasm to the game as far as people being more animated by what he does."

Despite the added interest, Puett said she does not see the archaic-like expectations of proper fan etiquette changing anytime soon.

"When [fans] are watching, cell phones have become practically the No. 1 complaint that people have," she said. "I think it's going to remain the same. I don't think clubs will allow cell phones."

According to the spectator guidelines on the United States Golf Association Web site, banners, posters and signs are all prohibited at the U.S. Open. Cameras and camcorders are only allowed on the Monday through Wednesday preceding the championship, which begins on a Thursday.

Other disallowed items include radios, televisions, lawn and folding armchairs, bicycles and "noise-producing electronic devices."

Those demands may seem a bit extreme, but according to USGA senior director of communications Marty Parkes, they are necessary to ensure the safety of the players and the fans.

"The championship itself is about the players," Parkes said. "[The USGA] goes to great lengths to make sure the fans can enjoy the action, but we really don't want them doing things that are going to sway the outcome in a negative sense.

"When you don't have cell phones going off or cameras going off, there's a lot less distraction for the players and for other fans."

Parkes said the emphasis on homeland security has increased the USGA's monitoring of security and fan behavior.

"We certainly spend more time, more effort and more money on security now than we did 10 or 13 years ago, when we went to Oakmont the last time," he said.Spectator guidelines for the U.S. Open

-- Please do not attach your U.S. Open ticket to your clothing until after your ticket has been scanned at an Admission Gate. For more information visit www.usga.org.

-- Your U.S. Open ticket must be displayed at all times.

-- Please stay behind gallery ropes and cooperate with the marshals at all times.

-- Please be considerate of others and kneel or sit if you are in the front row of the gallery.

-- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

-- To ensure your safety at all times, walk carefully and never run.

-- The U.S. Open involves substantial walking on grassy hills, dirt paths and other uneven surfaces. Please wear appropriate footwear such as sneakers.

Source: usga.org"I think Tiger has brought a lot of enthusiasm to the game as far as people being more animated by what he does."

-- Barbara Puett, six-time winner of the Austin City Women's Championship and co-author of the book "Golf Etiquette"