What It's Actually Like to Attend The Open Championship
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There's a version of attending The Open that exists in your head before you go. Pristine fairways, perfect weather, a polite gallery following the leaderboard in hushed reverence.
Then there's the real thing.
It's better.
We've been to The Open at Troon in 2024 and Portrush in 2025, and we're heading to Royal Birkdale this July. Here's what you actually need to know before you go.
You Will Walk Further Than You Think
The Open is not a spectator sport you watch from one spot. The courses are enormous — Royal Portrush stretches along the Antrim coast, Royal Troon through the Ayrshire links — and the only way to really experience it is to move.
Get there early, pick a hole you like the look of, and stay for a few groups. Then walk. You'll stumble across moments you couldn't have planned for: a player you didn't know you wanted to watch, a hole you'd never seen from that angle, a grandstand with an unlikely view.
The First Tee Is Worth the Queue
Every major has a first tee. The Open's is different.
Whether it's the grandstand at Troon overlooking the Firth of Clyde, or Portrush with the North Atlantic behind it — the first tee at The Open is one of those places where golf feels genuinely important. Players who play hundreds of competitive rounds a year visibly feel it.
Get there early. Queue if you have to. It's worth it.
Go on a Friday
We always go on Friday. Here's why.
Thursday is the first round — the course is full, the leaderboard is forming, everyone is finding their feet. Saturday and Sunday are the business end, which means bigger crowds, longer queues, and the field has thinned down to the contenders.
Friday is the sweet spot. The second round. The whole field is still playing. The overnight leaderboard means you know what's at stake. And crucially — Friday is when players who made a mess of Thursday come out swinging. The golf is often the best of the week.
Being Close to the Players Is Genuinely Surreal
At The Open, the gallery rope is all that separates you from the players. You can stand close enough to hear a caddie call a yardage, watch a player work through pre-shot routine, see exactly which club comes out of the bag.
On the practice range the morning of the round, you can stand a few feet away from players warming up. No screens. No commentary. Just watching.
After years of watching golf on television through a broadcast lens, being this close to it feels like stepping through the screen.
The Atmosphere Is the Thing
Whichever venue you go to, the atmosphere at The Open is unlike any other golf event. It's not just the best players in the world — it's the best players in the world on links courses that have existed for over a century, playing a tournament that has run without interruption for over 150 years.
You can feel the weight of that on the course.
Bring a waterproof. Accept that it might rain. Don't let that stop you from walking to the farthest corner of the course, finding a quiet spot on a dune, and just watching golf be played the way it was always meant to be played.
Practical Notes
- Bags: The Open has strict bag rules. Check the R&A website before you go.
- Weather Gear: Links golfers know that the weather can change in an instant, and at Open courses is no different. We've been absolutely roasted with sun-burn one minute (you can get burnt by the wind even if overcast), and in torrential downpors the next. A little folding umbrella, with a light waterproof jacket and hat should see you covered in most scenarios.
- Food and drink: Prices inside are what you'd expect from a major sporting event. Eat before you go, or budget for it. And bring a refillable water bottle. There are plenty of refill points, and not having to queue at a food stand for a simple water can be a huge timesaver.
- Timing: Gates open early — often 7am or before. Get in early, especially if you want the first tee and the practice area.
- Tickets: Book well in advance. Day tickets sell out quickly, particularly for Friday.
- Footwear: You are walking on links turf. Trainers are fine; heels are not.
- Merch Tent: If you need to bring back presents maybe just buy some online first from the official store, to save you having to carry around extra bags all day. It's worth a visit, but a lot of the common things are already online.
Low Chaser Golf makes grips and headcovers for players who love the game. We'll be at Royal Birkdale this July — come say hello.