Inside The Ropes: I lived every golfer’s dream at the 152nd Open Championship

Join me Inside The Ropes at the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon

Most golf fans dreams are others’ reality, I got a chance to go inside the ropes at Royal Troon at the 152 Open Championship and I thought I’d bring you along with me

It’s not every day you get to go inside the ropes at a Major Championship, especially The Open Championship at a course you’ve played before. This was my second time at Royal Troon but the first time as a member of the media, and it did not disappoint.

It was only the second round, but it was my first opportunity to get out on the course and take it all in. What better way to experience it than by strapping on the press armband and diving into the thick of the action?

I’ve been to The Open before and attended plenty of golfing events in my time as a golfer, but never anything quite like this.

If you’ve never done it before, it’s hard to put into words how it feels to slide under the yellow rope and act like you belong on the players’ side. Not a peep from any marshal or official—just keep to yourself and you’re golden.

Following some good scoring on day one, I thought it would be a good idea to join the group of Nicholai Hojgaard, Adam Scott, and Keita Nakajima. They were playing well and are some big names but I knew they wouldn’t gather the biggest crowds with the likes of Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler, and Shane Lowry out on the course at the same time. So this was a great opportunity to stay out of the way and learn the ropes with a lesser crowd.

As I waited on the left-hand side of the first hole, I had to narrowly avoid Hojgaard’s tee shot as it trundled through the fairway and into the spectators. My life inside the ropes had well and truly begun.

Having read the media rules and regulations thoroughly, I wanted to ensure I wasn’t stepping on anyone’s toes for the first few holes. So I kept out of the way, wandering the side of the first couple of holes, barely leaving the rope before I gained any confidence to push the boundaries.

Observing fellow members of the press going up to the tees and following the players down the fairways, I decided to chance my hand and give it a go. It was the best decision I could have made.

As I strolled up to the 3rd tee, no one batted an eyelid. In fact, I was welcomed onto the tee by some of the marshals who asked how my day had been!

Engaging with some of the marshals and volunteers on the hole, you quickly realize that everyone here loves golf. All they wanted to talk about was what I’d seen, who I thought was going to win, and how the players were performing.

Making some new friends on each tee box, I gained the confidence to follow the rest of the crew off the tee and down the walkways up the hole. It felt like I was trespassing, but like I belonged at the same time.

Inside the ropes, you feel so close yet so far from the fairway. I dared not try to walk on the fairway, but getting up close on the tee and greens was enough. The fact I could see every bit of action without having to work my way through a deep crowd was an unbelievable experience. I’ll be pinching myself for weeks until it sinks in what I had the chance to experience.

Brushing shoulders with the best in the game is something you get to do in and outside the ropes at The Open Championship. But there is something so special about being on the hole with them. It’s like you’re part of their entourage, getting to watch their every shot just as a caddie or playing partner would.

A particularly dreamlike scenario occurred when the marshals parted the walkways for the players to get to the next tee box. Inside the ropes, you have no other way of getting across to the next hole without going through this partition. As if I were Moses parting the Red Sea, I made my way from the 5th green to the 6th tee. It felt like I could hear faint murmurs of “Who is that?” “Who does he work for?” “How’s he allowed in there?” along with the deep stares from the spectators who I felt were judging me the whole time.

Having been on the other side of the rope, I know what it’s like to watch and wonder why this single piece of rope divides me from them. In all honesty, I felt at home within a few holes, but the initial head dive under the rope was something I’ll never forget.

Be warned as you navigate each hole—it’s not like the trampled pathways spectators have. You carve your own route through the heather as your legs get torn apart in the long grass. Yes, I was wearing shorts. If you ever get the chance to get inside the ropes at a British Open, I’d suggest trousers and appropriate footwear, unlike myself who poorly prepped.

You walk parts of the course no one wishes to ever find their ball in, or else you could be found carding a big score. It also gives you great perspective on what it’s like to miss the fairway and how much of a challenge an Open venue like Royal Troon can be.

The conditions for the 152nd Open at Troon were brutal. Spending an afternoon in gale-force winds, I wasn’t envious of the challenge that faced the golfers. Only jealous of the hospitality guests looking cozy up on their wind-protected balconies on the side of the 16th hole.

There is nothing like being in the hustle and bustle of the crowd at a live sporting event. But inside the ropes access is something special. Although you feel somewhat distant from the crowd, there is nothing quite like listening to all the conversations as you navigate the rough terrain. Standing beside the greens and tee boxes, I loved listening to what the fans had to say.

Groups of spectators were raving about how nice the course was and how tough the conditions at Troon had been, but something in particular stood out. Up by the 2nd green, two fans ran through exactly what they’d do in Adam Scott’s position as he played a pitch shot 20 yards back down the green. The way they spoke through his situation, you’d have thought they were among the 158 players lucky enough to tee it up at the 152nd Open Championship.

After a hard-fought battle at the 152nd Open Championship, Xander Schauffele came out on top, taming the weather in what was one of the most brutal British Opens in recent times. But for me, I got to do what I’d always dreamed of. Walking on the hallowed turf of Troon as a player and as a fan was nothing short of a dream come true.

About the author

Will Shreeve-Peacock – Golf Equipment Writer

Will is an expert in golf shoes, GPS watches, rangefinders, and training aids.

He has a degree in journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and four years’ experience working in golf retail with American Golf where he was trained by a host of the big-name manufacturers.

A six-handicapper, Will has played golf for more than a decade and is a member at Burghley Park Golf Club in Stamford, Lincolnshire.