Open Championship 2014: Guide to Royal Liverpool
Your essential guide to Royal Liverpool, home of the Open Championship
Your essential guide to Royal Liverpool, home of the Open Championship
TRAVEL How to get to the course...
By road Roads are expected to be extremely busy, and police are urging spectators to use designated traffic routes, which will be clearly signposted. Those driving to the event are advised to turn off satellite navigation devices and follow the appropriate signage.
Those travelling from the north and south should exit the M6 at junction 20A and join the M56 towards Chester until junction 15, then join the M53 towards Birkenhead, Wirral.
Parking If you have a coloured car park label, follow signs to the appropriate car park.
Park and ride Designated routes will lead to park and ride facilities, which will be operating from all public car parks. Spectators are strongly encouraged to use the park and ride facilities to minimise disruption to local traffic and ensure swift transfer times.
Car parking charges Weekly car parking labels cost £60 (only available in advance and subject to availability). Daily public car parking (payable in advance or on arrival) is £10 from Sunday 13 July to Tuesday 15 July and £15 thereafter.
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By rail Change on to Merseyrail Wirral Line at Liverpool Lime Street station to reach Hoylake station. Trains run every 10 minutes and the course is five minutes from the station. Liverpool Lime Street Station is easily accessible from all over the country, with direct trains running from London Euston, Manchester and Birmingham.
TICKET INFORMATION Everything you need to know if you're heading to Royal Liverpool...
How to book
Tickets can be purchased online at theopen.com or on 01334 460000. It will also be possible to purchase tickets at the gate during the event. A week-long season ticket, including free entrance for juniors (16 and under), is available for £240. Tickets for practice days start at £15; tournament days from £75. Concession prices are available to those spectators aged 21 or under on 12 July, 2014. Some 18th green reserved grandstand tickets are still available.
Opening times Gates open at 6am on Thursday 17 July and Friday 18 July, and 7am on all other days, excluding Sunday 13 July (first admittance 9am).
Further information Mobile phones will be permitted, provided users adhere to the strict policy in place. Cameras are allowed during practice, but not on championship days. Visit theopen.com for more info.
Daily ticket prices
Under-16s admitted free with a responsible, ticket-holding adult.
On Tournament days (Thursday-Sunday) Adult tickets are £75 and tickets for ages 16-21 are £30. Sunday-Wednesday ranges from £15-40 for adults and £5-20 for ages 16-21.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE What to do when the day's golf is done...
Stay
Less than 15 miles away lies Liverpool, one of England’s largest and most vibrant cities. With a large and diverse accommodation offering, it’s sure to be extremely popular.
The Hard Days Night Hotel (harddaysnighthotel.com), a Beatles-inspired creation, features 110 rooms in the Grade II-listed Central Buildings, with specially commissioned Beatles artwork in each.
The Hilton Liverpool (hiltonliverpool.co.uk) is situated in the heart of the city centre, with views over the Liver Building, Albert Dock and River Mersey. Elsewhere, Hotel Indigo (hotelindigoliverpool.co.uk) boasts a host of amenities, and decor designed to reflect the character of the local area.
Private lodging nearer Hoylake, plus other options, can be found through stayattheopen.com.
Eat
With Liverpool around the corner, and a few options near the course, you won’t go hungry.
Portrait House, Hoylake This former photographic studio offers a mixture of contemporary and classic cuisine.
T: 0151 632 4444
Malmaison Brasserie, Liverpool Malmaison uses locally sourced ingredients in its range of hearty dishes, which include mouth-watering steaks.
T: 0844 693 0655
Wheatsheaf Inn, Raby This 17th-century thatched inn won a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence earlier this year.
T: 0151 336 3416
Drink
Shrewsbury Arms, Oxton This friendly pub serves good-value food and has a wide selection of real ales. There’s plenty of outside seating, too.
T: 0151 652 1775
Cavern Club, Liverpool The Beatles rose to fame in this famous live music venue.
T: 0151 236 9091
Hillbark Hotel, frankby
The Contessa Bar at the Hillbark Hotel on the Wirral specialises in world beers and cocktails.
T: 0151 625 2400
AWAY FROM THE COURSE
Visit
Albert Dock This complex of dock buildings and warehouses – which opened in 1846 – was the first British structure to be built from cast iron, brick and stone, without wood. It played a prominent role in Britain’s maritime and wartime history and now houses a host of attractions, including the Tate Liverpool.
T: 0151 707 0729
Museum of Liverpool The world’s first national museum dedicated to a regional city’s history features films, artefacts, exhibits, galleries and more.
T: 0151 478 4545
W: liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol
The Beatles Story The world’s largest permanent exhibition devoted to The Beatles is located on the UNESCO World Heritage Site at the Albert Dock.
T: 0151 709 1963
Philharmonic Hall This Grade II-listed building and concert hall – home to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra – stages more than 250 events each year.
T: 0151 709 3789
Crazy golf The all-weather, floodlit 18-hole Adventure Golf course in New Brighton is less than five miles from Hoylake.
T: 0151 638 9135
Local courses
Wallasey
T: 0151 691 1024
Caldy
T: 0151 625 5660
West Lancashire
T: 0151 924 1076
Leasowe
T: 0151 677 5852
Formby
T: 01704 872164
Hillside
T: 01704 567169
VIEWING How to take in all the action at home or at the venue...
Media
Wed 16 July BBC2 & HD preview 11.20pm-11.50pm
Thu 17 BBC2 & HD 9am-8pm, highlights 12am-12.45am
Fri 18 as per Thursday
Sat 19 BBC1 & HD 10am-5.15pm, BBC2 & HD 5.15pm-8.30pm, highlights 12am-12.45am
Sun 20 BBC1 & HD 11am-7pm, highlights 12am-12.45am.
Live commentary available daily on BBC Radio 5 Live, plus watch via the red button and online (times subject to change – check listings closer to event).
The Open Championship App
The R&A has once again produced an Open Championship app, which is available for download on numerous platforms (read more on page 86). The free app contains a wealth of info, including live scoring, stats, video streams, leaderboards and revamped features for 2014.
Vantage points
13th green This par 3 is extremely difficult to hit, especially when the wind blows, so you’ll see plenty of short-game skill here.
Tented village Large screens and scoreboards are located throughout the tented village – the ideal place to catch up on the latest goings-on.
Grandstands Some 21,000 seats will be positioned around the course and by the practice ground – a popular spot. A limited number of reserved grandstand seats can be purchased in advance, but the rest are free to all spectators.
TENTED VILLAGE What's on offer there this year...
R&A Swingzone Once again, a group of PGA-qualified professionals will be on hand to give free lessons all week.
HSBC Golf Zone Returning for its fourth year, the free HSBC Golf Zone gives spectators the opportunity to test their golf skills in fun challenges, and the chance to win daily prizes.
Information centre Anyone with general enquires should head to the Open Championship information centre, situated in the Tented Village.
Big Screens & Scoreboards Numerous large screens will be positioned throughout the course and in the Tented Village, and 17 LED scoreboards will also be on site.
Binoculars These can be hired or bought from the Nikon Marquee in the Tented Village.
The Open Shop The exclusively designed and produced Open Collection for men, women and children will be on sale in the shop, featuring apparel, headwear, outerwear and accessories. Ralph Lauren, Official Outfitter to the Open Championship, will also be showcasing its RLX Golf, Polo Golf and Ralph Lauren Golf ranges. A personalisation station, free bag drop and onward shipping will also be available.
Autographs Follow signs for the designated area.
Catering You’ll find all the food and drink you need at licensed catering points, both on the course and in the Tented Village.
Banking HSBC will run a full-service branch, plus several free-to-withdraw cash machines.
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