The sky is glowing with a rosy orange hue, dipping down over an expanse of green and blue tents. From behind dull metal rails at the entrance to a field, I see twinkling lights, the crossed poles of giant tipis and hear the low beating hum of music.
Out of flaring sunset, a flat-bed buggy arrives to take me to the reception of the Open Camping Village. It’s a pop-up city for golf fans attending The 150th Open at St Andrews, the ‘Home of Golf.’
To my right is the modest clubhouse of Madras Rugby Club, custodians of the fields. It’s where I met some of my oldest and best friends, in Fresher’s Week, 25 years ago; as a fresh-faced student.
Beyond it, The Old Course Hotel, one of the priciest places to stay in St Andrews; and where many of golf’s biggest names stayed for the historic playing of golf’s oldest championship. Beyond that, the most famous golf course in the world: The Old Course.
It’s Tuesday and St Andrews feels in party mood.
Children are playing football on a pitch between meticulous rows of tents, some small, some family sized and some retro looking bell tents powered by solar panels. People wait in lines at food trucks. The scent of burgers wafts in the salty sea breeze. The beer garden at the Clubhouse is filling up fast.
(Image credit: FootJoy)
I’ve come to watch a golf tournament but I feel transported to Worthy Farm, Somerset, in scenes reminiscent of Glastonbury Festival. People seem genuinely happy. Chatting away in groups, reuniting with old friends, making new ones.
At reception, a family are getting help to loosen a toddler’s wrist band. Her older sister is helping herself to free Haribo. After a short wait, I’m assigned a Glamping Bell Tent and a clip-on red board to tell the world and camp staff I’m in residence.
I also find out FootJoy, sponsors of the 150th Open Camping Village, are throwing a ‘Camp-Out’ party in the clubhouse with DJ’s, FJ ambassadors and visits from Adam Scott, Will Zalatoris and Cameron Young.
This is the fifth tented village pitched by The R&A since the inaugural peg was struck…
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