The first U.S Women’s Open at the Pebble Beach Golf Links offered a very different experience for fans compared to the course’s last major tournament — the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Unlike February’s celebrity-studded tournament, the 78th U.S. Women’s Open was a much quieter experience with more family-oriented activities.

“It’s very casual,” said fan Rachel Cecil of Charlotte, North Carolina. “More so than most (tournaments).”

The United States Golf Association Museum Experience gave fans an in-depth look at the history of the women’s game and the Pebble Beach course, while the adjacent space featured interactive activities.

The “What Would You Shoot?” experience offered fans the chance to learn what their course handicap would be from the championship tees, while a golf simulator and Oculus VR headset gave attendees the opportunity to experience the course for themselves.

The USGA also added several kid-friendly activities in an effort to make the tournament more family-friendly and increase younger fan attendance.

A “Junior Experience” tent featured arts and crafts, chipping, putting and swing drills to children of all ages. Young fans could also participate in a nine-hole scavenger hunt designed to get kids out on the course and fully-immersed in the event. Completed scorecards — featuring activities like: watch someone hit a tee shot and witness a birdie — could be returned for a prize.

Fans under 17 also received complimentary admission any day with a ticketed adult. Each adult could bring in up to four “juniors” to attend the event.

“It exposes them (to golf),” said Danielle Tobia of New Jersey of the kid-friendly activities and free admission. “Some families couldn’t afford it otherwise.”

The Junior Experience tent was run by the Girls Golf program’s partnership between LPGA and USGA. Officials from the tent said they saw at least 1,000 young fans participate in the tent’s activities over the course of the event — the largest they’ve seen at a tournament.

And while alcoholic beverages were available at concession stands and some exclusive lounges, the U.S. Women’s Open lacked some of the louder clubhouses, fan zones and saloons of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Without the attraction of celebrity antics, fans seemed more focused on the golf, although some famous faces were spotted in the crowd. Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice was seen following Rose Zhang’s progress during Friday’s second round. And one fan joked that he saw Clint Eastwood’s golf cart on the course.

The tournament’s impressive lineup, featuring famous names like Michelle Wie West and Annika Sorenstam was also a factor for some in attendance.

Anna Cordova and Alex Amaya traveled from Santa Maria for the chance to see Sorenstam play her last professional tournament. Their first time at Pebble Beach, Cordova said the short travel time pushed them to buy tickets after reading about the event in a ladies’ golf magazine.

While more popular golfers like Zhang and Sorenstam saw hundreds of fans crowding to watch the professionals up close, others in attendance were just excited to be part of the historical event.

Four students from the Defense Language Institute — Noah Rohrdanz, Owen Musseau, Sean Houston and Clay Gober — said they jumped at the chance to attend the local event, despite not being avid women’s golf fans.

“I don’t really know what I was expecting,” joked Musseau.

Rohrdanz, who said he attended the U.S. men’s Open at Pebble Beach in 2019, said while the crowds were smaller, the fan experience and overall atmosphere was about the same.

The weekend’s championship tournament crowds seemed to include many locals or Californians looking to escape hotter temperatures of the inland valleys and experience the Peninsula’s famous course.

Rick Frye of Carmel Valley, said his love for golf is what inspired him to attend. A regular AT&T Pro-Am attendee, Frye said the smaller crowds at the U.S. Women’s Open offered a good chance to see favorite players up close.

But Frye said if given the choice, he still prefers the AT&T Pro-Am.

“It’s a very different vibe. This is more serious,” he said. “The Pro-Am’s a party!”