The 150th Open

[MattyO1984]

Just having mentioned the parking there reminded me of heading down to St Andrews in 2015. On the Saturday, we hired a mini bus and about 12-14 of us headed down from my home Club. I had been down on the Monday and had mentioned about the park and ride facilities. Our driver chose to ignore that and drove straight for the town before turning off at the Old Course Hotel and pulling into the car park on the playing fields right next to the Hotel before parking up. There was no way we were allowed to be there - our mini bus was about as conspicuous as you could imagine among the various high end German saloons around us. Having parked up I and a guy Greg were tasked with approaching the attendant to "enquire" about parking. The attendant was an old guy in hi-vis and we greeted him with a jovial who do we speak to about parking here? Ever so slowly, he scanned the scene to see that there was no one else around before answering "me, where you boys from?" We answered Elgin before he proceeded to tell us it was "a tenner for you boys". We duly handed him a £10 note and we were done. Still one of the best value transactions I have ever entered into. Now of course, we got to see about 90 minutes of golf the entire day but at least when we were done it was not far to head back to the bus!

[Hankshank]

1 hour ago, scott_Donald said:

 

I actually really like 12, 14 and 16.

 

12 hit a good tee shot and good birdie hole, otherwise good luck as the green is a killer.

 

14 just let it rip off the tee and go for the green!

 

16 so tight for The Old Course, try and keep it right to make it so short but flirt with the Driving Range and OB.

 

Playing myself, my wallet have only permitted me to play it once IRL (in different games numerous times), my caddie was like, drive it to the rough at the left and everything is gonna be alright...

[Hankshank]

2 hours ago, scott_Donald said:

I can't wait for this, I will be watching on TV but almost prefer to watch the tournament like that.

 

I can only speak for Royal Aberdeen but the course is already in great condition with the weather been so good since mid April; course is going to be in perfect condition by July.

 

I was going to try and get a practice round ticket but seems impossible; I am lucky with having a property right in the centre of town, I can park there and walk 3 minutes to the Old Course.

 

What is shocking to me is we still have not let the property for The Open yet; rightly the price is stupid but it is so close to everything in town. Restaurant bookings will be interesting in town that week, they are bad enough during The Dunhill.

 

 

 

Thats sad to hear. My only round at the Old Course and the stay at St Andrews, back in  2008ish, was for that time very affordable everything. B&B just a stone throw from 1st Tee as cheap as anywhere else(great service, among the best breakfast ever), 130 pounds for the Old course (added 65 pounds for the mandatory day-before Jubilee round, but It was a perfect weekend)  and about 60 for the caddie. I count it as one of the most price worthy rounds of golf I ever had. The Caddie, Sandy, was worth every penny. Not only did we make a really good round of golf with his guidance but his scottish accent and his humour "aye, ee was boorrn is sankt androos, ee lost me verrgeentiy in sankt andrroos", "dat is de greetest peenis in skotlannd"  was great.  But yeah, I heard prices has gone ridiculous now. 

 

 

Edited May 25, 2022 by Hankshank

[iBanesto]

19 hours ago, Christosterone said:

1978 Open was absolutely bananas…the leaderboard after every round was a future hall of fame ballot

 

 

 

Nicklaus and St Andrews. Perfect match.

 

 

 

[jubilee_links]

Even living close by (20minutes) I didnt sign up for the ticket ballot -
2005 open I lived in the town so just wandered down to the course  - went out at 5.30AM to see Tiger practice  - not sure I even had to pay that morning.

Was part of the marshalling team in 2015 so got as up close and personal as you can which was a great experience but the weather that year certainly presented some challenges.

This is a really spoiled for choice decision but as others have said - Old Course is not great to watch on so you are going for the atmosphere and the day out. Compared to other opens Ive been to (Carnoustie and Troon) its more about the day out and experience.  Satuday in 2005 we ended up sat watching Tiger and Monty on the big screen for hours as opposed to trying to see anything on the course.

 

For those going - a really good spot is the stand beside the 11th tee - can see 7,8,9,10 and 11 from there.

I really do worry about the logistics of 50000 people getting to and from the town every day even with park and ride facilities etc.

Saying all that I will be sick to the stomach during the week that I'm missing out ..........

Hope those that are going have a great experience

[FenderSpots]

This has to be my favorite major of the year. I know the others are loved for various reasons, but this for me is the one I look forward to the most. Plus the time works a little nicer for me to watch given I'm Europe based.

[Hankshank]

1 hour ago, iBanesto said:

1978 Open was absolutely bananas…the leaderboard after every round was a future hall of fame ballot

Thats something I really miss, a major championship where there is a real duel between some of the really big elephants, battling it through to the last hole. Being a wee bit patriotic, the duel btw Stenson and Mickelson at Troon had a little bit of that. Most often, there is a mixed bag of wannabees, prettygoods and top players at the top of the leaderboard. Ok, Zalatoris is pretty close to top player, this last had one of the more exciting finales later years.

[Hankshank]

1 hour ago, FenderSpots said:

This has to be my favorite major of the year. I know the others are loved for various reasons, but this for me is the one I look forward to the most. Plus the time works a little nicer for me to watch given I'm Europe based.

this year being at St Andrews, I agree.

[RainShadow]

10 hours ago, Mustard_Tiger said:

I love the British Open. I think of the great British Open champions of the past like Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, Ben Curtis, Todd Hamilton, Zach Johnson, Jordan Spieth...

 

You know when you've sipped Miller Lite from the claret jug, you're among the best golfers to ever play the game of golf.

 

 

 

 You left out Big John Daly!

[MattyO1984]

3 hours ago, jubilee_links said:

Even living close by (20minutes) I didnt sign up for the ticket ballot -
2005 open I lived in the town so just wandered down to the course  - went out at 5.30AM to see Tiger practice  - not sure I even had to pay that morning.

Was part of the marshalling team in 2015 so got as up close and personal as you can which was a great experience but the weather that year certainly presented some challenges.

This is a really spoiled for choice decision but as others have said - Old Course is not great to watch on so you are going for the atmosphere and the day out. Compared to other opens Ive been to (Carnoustie and Troon) its more about the day out and experience.  Satuday in 2005 we ended up sat watching Tiger and Monty on the big screen for hours as opposed to trying to see anything on the course.

 

For those going - a really good spot is the stand beside the 11th tee - can see 7,8,9,10 and 11 from there.

I really do worry about the logistics of 50000 people getting to and from the town every day even with park and ride facilities etc.

Saying all that I will be sick to the stomach during the week that I'm missing out ..........

Hope those that are going have a great experience

 

Jube - shhh! Don't be telling people how good the grandstand on 11 is haha.

[jubilee_links]

2 hours ago, MattyO1984 said:

 

Jube - shhh! Don't be telling people how good the grandstand on 11 is haha.

 

Food and bar round the back of the loop often also bit quieter......

As a side note - I know its 2 months away but its blowing 40mph here this afternoon....

[Ashley Schaeffer]

I've been waiting for this thread.  My wife surprised me with tickets for Friday for my birthday.  It's one of those MasterCard Experiences where you get hospitality, etc.  We get three meals and comped drinks at the Seafood Ristorante behind the first tee, grounds passes, and reserved seating in the 18th grandstands.  Bringing my wife and my parents (who have never left the US).  Dad introduced me to golf when I was 4, so this is going to be something.  I'm thinking we'll both get a little teary when we step on those grounds.

 

Any travel/spectating tips would be extremely welcome!

[scott_Donald]

20 hours ago, Hankshank said:

 

Thats sad to hear. My only round at the Old Course and the stay at St Andrews, back in  2008ish, was for that time very affordable everything. B&B just a stone throw from 1st Tee as cheap as anywhere else(great service, among the best breakfast ever), 130 pounds for the Old course (added 65 pounds for the mandatory day-before Jubilee round, but It was a perfect weekend)  and about 60 for the caddie. I count it as one of the most price worthy rounds of golf I ever had. The Caddie, Sandy, was worth every penny. Not only did we make a really good round of golf with his guidance but his scottish accent and his humour "aye, ee was boorrn is sankt androos, ee lost me verrgeentiy in sankt andrroos", "dat is de greetest peenis in skotlannd"  was great.  But yeah, I heard prices has gone ridiculous now. 

 

 

 

 

I am talking Open 10 day booking prices for accommodation; everything else is fine.

 

6 hours ago, Ashley Schaeffer said:

I've been waiting for this thread.  My wife surprised me with tickets for Friday for my birthday.  It's one of those MasterCard Experiences where you get hospitality, etc.  We get three meals and comped drinks at the Seafood Ristorante behind the first tee, grounds passes, and reserved seating in the 18th grandstands.  Bringing my wife and my parents (who have never left the US).  Dad introduced me to golf when I was 4, so this is going to be something.  I'm thinking we'll both get a little teary when we step on those grounds.

 

Any travel/spectating tips would be extremely welcome!

 

Seems an epic trip, where are you staying?

 

My dad really likes that fish restaurant, I have never been.

 

St Andrews is so simple and compact, was supposed to be there today but will be next week now.

[MattyO1984]

20 hours ago, jubilee_links said:

Food and bar round the back of the loop often also bit quieter......

As a side note - I know its 2 months away but its blowing 40mph here this afternoon....

 

The weather this week has been mad up here as well. More like Autumn than mid-late Spring.

[MattyO1984]

12 hours ago, Ashley Schaeffer said:

I've been waiting for this thread.  My wife surprised me with tickets for Friday for my birthday.  It's one of those MasterCard Experiences where you get hospitality, etc.  We get three meals and comped drinks at the Seafood Ristorante behind the first tee, grounds passes, and reserved seating in the 18th grandstands.  Bringing my wife and my parents (who have never left the US).  Dad introduced me to golf when I was 4, so this is going to be something.  I'm thinking we'll both get a little teary when we step on those grounds.

 

Any travel/spectating tips would be extremely welcome!

 

That sounds incredible, hoping for the best day for you when it comes around. I'll be there that day, I will wave from the cheap seats haha. Make the most of the hospitality that is for sure but I would always recommend grabbing a seat on the the grandstand next to the 17th green at some stage. Watching them coming through that green with all the pitfalls around it (Road Hole Bunker and the Road) then teeing off on 18 heading back into the town proper is just incredible. 

[Ferguson]

Fair to say this isn't really the 150th Championship.  The first 30 or so were smaller events with few hardcopy records to verify the results.  I am going to say this is actually the 119th playing of this event. 

 

 

[KNOWMOREDOUBLES]

So what is the winning score this year?  I just heard Frank Nobilo say if the conditions are easy, it could get to 25 under.  Doesn't sound like a major to me if that's the case.

[Superbrit]

9 minutes ago, KNOWMOREDOUBLES said:

So what is the winning score this year?  I just heard Frank Nobilo say if the conditions are easy, it could get to 25 under.  Doesn't sound like a major to me if that's the case.

Well if Frank nobilo says it, it must be true

 

The lowest winning score ever at St Andrews was -19, but that was Tiger in his heyday, oh and he won by 8

 

If no wind i'd say between -15 and -18, if the wind is howling then god knows

[MattyO1984]

12 minutes ago, KNOWMOREDOUBLES said:

So what is the winning score this year?  I just heard Frank Nobilo say if the conditions are easy, it could get to 25 under.  Doesn't sound like a major to me if that's the case.

 

Ask the player that shoots -25 under if they think it's a major...

[gvogel]

16 hours ago, Ashley Schaeffer said:

I've been waiting for this thread.  My wife surprised me with tickets for Friday for my birthday.  It's one of those MasterCard Experiences where you get hospitality, etc.  We get three meals and comped drinks at the Seafood Ristorante behind the first tee, grounds passes, and reserved seating in the 18th grandstands.  Bringing my wife and my parents (who have never left the US).  Dad introduced me to golf when I was 4, so this is going to be something.  I'm thinking we'll both get a little teary when we step on those grounds.

 

Any travel/spectating tips would be extremely welcome!

I played St Andrews with my Dad a few times in 1978, and a couple more in 1984.  Great memories.  Irreplaceable.

[gvogel]

3 hours ago, Ferguson said:

Fair to say this isn't really the 150th Championship.  The first 30 or so were smaller events with few hardcopy records to verify the results.  I am going to say this is actually the 119th playing of this event. 

 

 

Well aren't you Danny Downer.

[KNOWMOREDOUBLES]

1 hour ago, MattyO1984 said:

 

Ask the player that shoots -25 under if they think it's a major...

100% agree.  I just hear complaints about the Tour being nothing but a birdiefest week to week. What will be the difference if someone does shoot -20 at the British Open?  Will they complain then?  Put an asterisk next to it?

 

and FYI gvogel...we can all be DEBBIE Downer's theses days, if we chose

Edited May 26, 2022 by KNOWMOREDOUBLES

[So_Cal]

Played the old course in 2010.  It was late October.  Walked to the starter hut as a single about 4:30 AM and got my name on the list.  Got out early with another American and an English couple.  It was freezing.  Was wearing so much clothing that I blocked my opening tee shot OB.  Yes, it’s possible to do that.  
 

Simply put TOC is awesome.  The turf is incredible.  I’ve never played off such a perfectly firm surface.  If you’re into architecture there are so many great holes and features it’s hard to keep track of it all.  I still remember hitting over the shed on the road hole.  Missed a four footer for par.  Walking up 18 was awesome.   Had lunch with the English couple after, they paid.  What a great experience.  I wish I could play there tomorrow.  I love Scottish golf, the people and the atmosphere.  What a place.   Here’s to a great 2022 Open Championship!

[Duct Tape]

St Andrew’s recollections-

 

I first played it while in high school. Schooled to perfect fairways and “fair” outcomes, I hated it. On one hole, can’t remember which, my caddie told me to aim at the church steeple. After determining which steeple (there were several) I absolutely nutted a drive, which was maybe 2 degrees left of said target, and turned proudly to my caddie, who was shaking his head saying, “Oh no laddie”. Confused we grimly walked on and found my ball is a tiny, hellish bunker. After several attempts I finally just threw the damn thing out. Things got worse. OB’s, lost balls, adventure with both road hole wall and bunker. 
 

Been back several times and have learned to appreciate it. Still not my favorite, those would be Dornoch, Muirfield, RCD and Waterville, but certainly the epicenter of golf history and perfect place for the 150th. Can’t wait. 
 

 

Edited May 27, 2022 by Duct Tape

[elwhippy]

Will be watching on TV. Applied to the ballot and got nothing. One of our members managed to secure 3 days worth of tickets. Be interesting to know how the hell that happened. Due to demand people are asking 6 times face value for practice days. If this is the R&A's idea of growing the game then attending future opens is going to be a real challenge. 

[grm24]

15 minutes ago, elwhippy said:

Due to demand people are asking 6 times face value for practice days. If this is the R&A's idea of growing the game then attending future opens is going to be a real challenge. 

Is it the R&A's fault for what people are re-selling The Open tickets for? Explain that. Hint. It's not.

 

People sell their Masters tickets, practice rounds and daily round tickets, for more than a 6x factor every year. Is that the fault of ANGC? 

[pingnewbie]

Elwhippy, I applied in the lottery and won Monday and Tuesday tickets. I’m from the US though so I wondered if they just wanted more tourism $$. Bummed we can’t make it though.

[hammersia]

On 5/25/2022 at 8:59 AM, scott_Donald said:

 

What is shocking to me is we still have not let the property for The Open yet; rightly the price is stupid but it is so close to everything in town. Restaurant bookings will be interesting in town that week, they are bad enough during The Dunhill.

 

 

That’s terrible. I shall mosey on up on the Wednesday of Open week and offer you a stupid low amount of money for your property, and you’ll have to take it, lol. 

[dab36]

One of few golf bucket list things I have.....either play there or see any Open in person.  Playing there probably more realistic.  Have not been this up for a major in quite a while, so looking forward to this years Open.  Will miss Peter Aliss though...........greatly.  

[iBanesto]

The greatest win at St Andrews.