It was meant to be fun and it is. The players respect each other as professionals, regardless of which team they're on. In 1991, things got out of hand, especially behind the ropes. We didn't treat our guests with proper respect and made the Ryder Cup into a shouting match instead of a golf match. Watson is to be commended for bringing civility back to the matches when he captained the United States team in 1993.
Players are also fortunate enough to have their wives and significant others along during the trip.
The social occasions that are a part of the week are a nice break from the grind of practice, especially for the wives, who provide support and camaraderie. If you have children who are old enough to appreciate the Ryder Cup, by all means take them. I was able to take my sons to Oak Hill. They will never forget it. They learned from the players how to conduct themselves as gentlemen, win or lose.