Conman85
Assistant Pro
Per thread title, i'm half considering popping down for the Saturday. Is it a decent course for spectating?
Thinking about going to the open, whats Hoylake like for spectating?
- Thread starter Conman85
- Start date
Duckster
Tour Rookie
I enjoyed it last time I went. Think Birkdale has some slightly better spots where you can see parts of 4 or 5 holes from the top of one of the dunes but Hoylake was good.
Easy to get around so you can follow a group if you want for a few holes. Plus some nice spots to just sit and watch the pro's go about their day job.
Roll on Tuesday practise day!
Easy to get around so you can follow a group if you want for a few holes. Plus some nice spots to just sit and watch the pro's go about their day job.
Roll on Tuesday practise day!
Qwerty
Tour Winner
I've been to the Open 5 times now and each year it just seems to get worse for spectating due to the crowds, crossing points etc.
ive only been to the Open so I can't really compare it with any other tournament.
Last time at lytham I enjoyed the Tuesday practice day more than the Saturday which was absolute bedlam. So thats what I'll be doing this year.
It is a great day out and I don't think the R&A could organise it any better, I just think 30-40,000 people crowded around 18 holes is a few too many.
ive only been to the Open so I can't really compare it with any other tournament.
Last time at lytham I enjoyed the Tuesday practice day more than the Saturday which was absolute bedlam. So thats what I'll be doing this year.
It is a great day out and I don't think the R&A could organise it any better, I just think 30-40,000 people crowded around 18 holes is a few too many.
Foxholer
Blackballed
Spectating is as easy - or hard - as any other Open.
But getting to/from Hoylake itself - and parking etc - is the biggest challenge for that venue.
Better (with any of them imo) to watch it from the comfort of an armchair!
But getting to/from Hoylake itself - and parking etc - is the biggest challenge for that venue.
Better (with any of them imo) to watch it from the comfort of an armchair!
Conman85
Assistant Pro
Really? I thought the transport links would be good. I went to Muirfield last yr and the links were good, busy, but good.
colint
Tour Rookie
Transport should be fine, there's a train from Liverpool which takes about 25 minutes and drops you less half a mile from the course. I wouldn't drive to the course as it's not an area which will cope with huge traffic easily. Train will be fine though, also a bus from Liverpool. The course is pretty flat so doesn't have as many natural vantage points as other courses, but the upside is it's not hard work to get around
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
Spot on, get the train from Liverpool, I think last time they run extra trains so they were about every 15 minutes.
Only 5 minutes walk to the course from the station.
If you were driving down on the day, you might be able to park your car near to West Kirby station and just hop on for 1 stop to Hoylake,but west Kirby may be chocker with cars.
Last time it was at Hoylake, I think it was record crowds for the whole open week.
matt71
Tour Rookie
Me and the wife are going again this year as its not too far from not so sunny Preston, however we have decided to stay overnight in Liverpool (cheap premier inn for £29) and getting the train to the course in the morning. It is our 1st time to Hoylake and can anyone recommend a good grand stand to sit at so you can maybe enjoy a few holes at once ?
colint
Tour Rookie
I'd avoid West Kirby, it's bad enough there to park on a sunny day without the Open. There are a few cheap car parks at the top end of Liverpool city centre, around the London Road / Lime Street area. You can get the train from the underground in Lime Street, can't think of many convenient / cheap car parks on the Wirral side, might as well train it from Liverpool and save the tunnel fee (£1.70 each way)
Conman85
Assistant Pro
I won't be taking the car, half the fun for me is getting a wee drink in the sun and following the players. Enjoyed the atmosphere last year and was even good sitting with a few pints at the tented village watching some of it on the big screen.
Mastercracker
Assistant Pro
I'm off on the saturday, will be the first time I've been.
Conman85
Assistant Pro
Go early and make sure to soak up the atmosphere. Another thing I can't recommend highly enough is visiting the range, just to see how well the players make contact. I could have sat and watched all day last year!
Duckster
Tour Rookie
+1 for this! Missed going to the range at Lytham the other year but spent a couple of hours there at both Hoylake and Birkdale.
HoylakeHedgehog
Newbie
I live a 5 minute walk from the course, room for three cars on my drive if anybody would like to drive and park. (For the price of a pint!) 
Hoylake is a great little village with lots of restaurants and bars. The Plasterers Arms (CH47 2DT) is a fantastic traditional English pub and not to be missed.
The women's open a couple of years ago was disappointing as they shepherded everyone to the train station and Hoylake missed out on the visitor trade.
Hoylake is a great little village with lots of restaurants and bars. The Plasterers Arms (CH47 2DT) is a fantastic traditional English pub and not to be missed.
The women's open a couple of years ago was disappointing as they shepherded everyone to the train station and Hoylake missed out on the visitor trade.
Liverbirdie
Ryder Cup Winner
I live a 5 minute walk from the course, room for three cars on my drive if anybody would like to drive and park. (For the price of a pint!)
Hoylake is a great little village with lots of restaurants and bars. The Plasterers Arms (CH47 2DT) is a fantastic traditional English pub and not to be missed.
The women's open a couple of years ago was disappointing as they shepherded everyone to the train station and Hoylake missed out on the visitor trade.
The ship inn is a nice boozer as well, only 10 minutes from the course.
I went to The Open when it was held there in 2006 and wasn't too impressed with the spectating areas, sitting on the bank surrounding the green on the par 3 11th called "Alps" is pretty entertaining though.
hamshanker
Challenge Tour Pro
Been to couple of the comp days at Birkdale and Lytham and like been said The Open does attract alot of spectators now so im off to the Weds practice day this time and watch the serious stuff from my armchair....
Captainron
Big Hitting, South African Sweary Person
Get to the top of the grandstand on the par 5 5th hole. Can see the seconds into the hole plus all of the par 3 6th and the tee shots for the 7th as well as the 14th. Get in early and don't go for a pee!
