The iconic British Open Golf Championship draws enthusiastic galleries, but it’s no cheap ticket to lodge close by in order to be part of the fun. Housing during the Open can do a number on the wallet and certainly prevents many young fans from attending this golf classic.
This year’s event is at Royal Troon July 13-17, where many local B&B’s will be charging up to $2,000 per week for a stay during the event. It’s even more financially daunting to rent a property to share with average rental fees hovering around $7,000 per week.
With the aim of making the event more accessible to young fans, golf’s governing body R&A is making a bold move to revive the game’s interest for the younger followers and make it more affordable for the less-affluent crowd to be part of the action. This year the R&A will offer free lodging to spectators aged 25 and under at a camping village.
Located just a short distance from the course at Scotland’s Royal Troon, there will be an Open Camping Village with 500 available spaces for campers. Better yet, these spaces come with pre-pitched tents constructed in two, four, and six-person “rooms.”
Each space has an inflatable bed and the village is equipped with showers, parking, and food/drink options. The Open Camping Village will also be available to families on a limited basis, but children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Johnnie Cole-Hamilton is the executive director of championships for the R&A. He believes that the camping village, along with discounted youth tickets and the Kids Go Free program are vital parts of a commitment to give young fans. It provides a “wonderful opportunity to get up close to their favorite players,” and will inspire future generations to “pick up a club and take part themselves,” he said in a press release.
The reigning champion of the British Open is Zach Johnson.
Photo credit: Flickr CC
