The British open 2010

Starie1975

Hello all,

I'm planning to attend the open next year as it’s in St Andrews plus that we currently have two golfers in the top ten. Tickets are on sale for 60 pound a day.

Has anyone been to the open in St Andrews? If so have you any advice on where to stay or any other tips?

minstrel_boy

Hi

last year, to avoid paying the daily entrance fee and car park fee, i worked as a marshall for 4hrs a day at Turnberry. We were at the 14th tee, so we were able to watch the golf (for the most part) while on duty and then watch as a regular spectator for the rest of the day. They even paid us for doing it, I think I got st£120 from the on course bank on sunday evening...I also managed to sneak my girlfriend in for free on the sunday, as I gave her my ticket and then blagged my way in through security as I had a marshall's bib. (Entirely illegal, but the feds havent come looking for me just yet). It worked out great for me and I really enjoyed the week.

I think the whole think saved me the guts of £500.

One note of caution : You could get stuck with a job outside directing traffic or selling programmes for the 4 days....but you will know what position you are being offered well before the start of the event ( i got a couple of months notice), so you could always refuse the offer if it came to that. One other thing i should mention is that I was also lucky that I was marshalling for 4 hrs on sunday morning and not sunday afternoon, when we got to see the thrilling final holes with westwood, cink and watson

Mister Sifter

minstrel_boy wrote: »

Hi

last year, to avoid paying the daily entrance fee and car park fee, i worked as a marshall for 4hrs a day at Turnberry. We were at the 14th tee, so we were able to watch the golf (for the most part) while on duty and then watch as a regular spectator for the rest of the day. They even paid us for doing it, I think I got st£120 from the on course bank on sunday evening...I also managed to sneak my girlfriend in for free on the sunday, as I gave her my ticket and then blagged my way in through security as I had a marshall's bib. (Entirely illegal, but the feds havent come looking for me just yet). It worked out great for me and I really enjoyed the week.

I think the whole think saved me the guts of £500.

One note of caution : You could get stuck with a job outside directing traffic or selling programmes for the 4 days....but you will know what position you are being offered well before the start of the event ( i got a couple of months notice), so you could always refuse the offer if it came to that. One other thing i should mention is that I was also lucky that I was marshalling for 4 hrs on sunday morning and not sunday afternoon, when we got to see the thrilling final holes with westwood, cink and watson

How did you get that job Minstrel? Was there an applications process or something?

minstrel_boy

Mister Sifter wrote: »

How did you get that job Minstrel? Was there an applications process or something?

I just filled out an application form and was offer the marshall position near the 14th tee. There is nothing glamourous about most of the jobs and its probably pot luck with what you get offered. I wouldnt mind one of those BBC microphone jobs!!:)

Form can be got here

http://www.gandalinks.co.uk/

PhilipMarlowe

One of the guys from our annual November St. Andrews trip was looking at booking into the hotel we stayed in for the 2010 Open... no chance at this stage. In fact, not much chance for 2015 even! Have to take the room for the week and at a hefty rate (for 2015).
I guess the places in the town would all be well reserved in advance so you'd have to stay in the more outlying towns?
Would love to go there for The Open though...

minstrel_boy

Getting accomodation near Turnberry last year was very difficult. We ended up staying in a Guesthouse right across the road from Cairnryan port. It was a 45 minute drive to the course from there.

I would say Edinburgh would be a good location.

Mister Sifter

minstrel_boy wrote: »

I just filled out an application form and was offer the marshall position near the 14th tee. There is nothing glamourous about most of the jobs and its probably pot luck with what you get offered. I wouldnt mind one of those BBC microphone jobs!!:)

Form can be got here

http://www.gandalinks.co.uk/

Excellent stuff... i'll have a bash at that!

I have it handy when the Open is at St Andrews as my non-golfing Aunt has a holiday home there.

stockdam

I would suggest staying in Edinburgh and travelling.

Atlantic1

If any of you are thinking of going, I'd strongly recommend that you go on the Thursday. Seve is talking about playing one final Open Championship. I'm not sure that he'd manage 2 days but, if he does play, there won't be too many dry eyes when he crosses the Swilcan Bridge..............

Starie1975

stockdam wrote: »

I would suggest staying in Edinburgh and travelling.

Flying from Galway to Edinburgh on Friday (so I'll miss Seve) and back on Monday. Staying in Edinburgh. Train for one hour and bus for 20 minutes I've been told.

gravity12

old thread, but anyone going to the Open this weekend?

Also any tips for attending a golf event?

The_Architect

Not going unfortunately... 1990 was the last Open I attended at The Old Course although I've been to St Andrews quite a lot lately for one reason or another... Always a pleasure.

It's not a very good spectator course because of the layout... My preferred method of approach is to get a stand seat out at the loop, preferably a view of shots in to 7 and 11 along with the drive at 12... The competition will still be on (hopefully) at that point on Sunday so you can then choose which group to follow back at the end...

Try and squeeze in to the Dunvegan for a drink at the end of the day. You will bump in to a familiar face or two.

Jimdagym

gravity12 wrote: »

old thread, but anyone going to the Open this weekend?

Also any tips for attending a golf event?

Peter Aliss said during the coverage of the Scottish Open that there would be tickets available at the gate every day. The organizer's didn't want to limit attendances like the masters does. I remember thinking it strange. There must be some safety limit of number of spectators.