Anyone been to the The Open?

I'm going tomorrow for the first time.

Any advice on what to take and tips on how to get round the course?

 

Ive been 5 times not been since 2009. You cant take your mobile phones or cameras, we used to take a hamper in with us. Its a good day out, never been to Lytham so dont know the layout but the ones ive been to have been good for views of the greens. Enjoy.

 

You can take your phones on this year mate, they have relaxed the rules due to the golf apps available to keep up to date etc. Your still not allowed to take pictures though.

Got a load of sarnies packed up. I assume you don't have to wear golf clobber?

 

Just back having spent the day there today.

Take sun lotion or a hat. I look like a lobster.

On a more serious note, the course is easy to nagivate. Loads of stands by the holes but plan to get there about an hour before any players you want to see pass through as they soon fill up once the popular players start passing through. A great vantage spot is at the back of the 3rd green. There you get to see the 3rd green, the 6th green and the 7th tee.

You can wear any clobber you like. Just try and wear something comfortable on your feet. The ground where spectators have been walking is quite muddy too.

 

Yeah you can wear what you want, i chuckle to myself at the ones who dress in full golf attire as though they are about to go on the course for a round themselves! Its a great experience, one im looking forward to going to again, Muirfield next year is on the cards.

 

That explains why one of my wife's facebook friends who is her colleague and a brilliant photographer, goes to the practice sessions earlier in the week. I couldn't work out why he didn't go yesterday rather than Wednesday to take photos. Think someone he knows gets him a pass so he can take photos, but they'll be harder to get hold of for the tournament. Saw some of the pics he put on facebook, brilliant one he got of Tiger Woods.

 

Like Lee we went yesterday... great day but also caught the sun.

Parking , follow signs for 'public' £15quid, parked up and buses waiting to take ya, 10mins from course, all worked smoothly and roads/traffic lights managed for departure. Id advise gettin there early early mate (we arrived at 7am)

Course itself was wet, very boggy in places, groundstaff putting bark n chippings down but from what ive seen today it hammered it down last night... dont wear yr best clobber.... suggestion would be golf shoes if you have them... its is quite 'moundy' in places so could be slippy

Best place we found was Grandstand behind 4th green, from back couple of rows you can see 2nd tee/fairway/green , 4th fairway green . 5th which is a par 3

If youve binoculors Id take them mate.. helps identify players (and also decent for the Golf WAGS).... also take a little golf towel..works wonders drying wet seats if you get in a grandstand

Have a look on theopen.com theres a PDF you can download showing crossing points etc so u can play the follow groups then switch across to pick up others etc but theres huge crowds following groups... best to plan ahead a pick up a spot before the big names come thru and then watch 4-5 groups from there

Enjoy yourself, we're already planning a stop-over for Royal Liverpool in 2014

 

Gents, thank you very much for the comments, much appreciated!

Got back 20 mins ago, what a fantastic day out it is. I'll keep it short, but tiger was fantastic. I was right behind him when he holed the bunker shot on the last, it was never out.

I found a street to park on in St Annes. Couldn't recommend the day out high enough. Even non golfers would love it I'm sure.

 

Ive been lucky enough to meet Tiger Woods and he is such a nice person, what you dont see on tv his the actual size of him, he is huge, no wonder he knocks a 2 iron 300 yards!

Glad you had a good day, ive already sorted my days out for next year at Muirfield, Nick Faldo is making his last Open appearence so be good to say goodbye to a legend.

 

Currently down on the range getting ready for Adam's 1520 tee off time.... Gunna be decent weather today which should suit Scotty.

Hth

 

75 today - nailed on