What to Expect at The Open 2026: A First-Timer's Complete Guide

The 154th Open Championship takes place at Royal Birkdale, Southport, from 13–19 July 2026. If you've never attended a major golf championship, the scale of it will surprise you. 250,000 people across the week. The world's best players. An atmosphere unlike any other sporting event in this country.

I live three miles from the course and have been to multiple Opens. Here's everything a first-timer needs to know.

Tickets: what you need to know now

Championship round tickets (Thursday–Sunday) are in very short supply. If you haven't got them yet, check the R&A official site immediately: returns do come up but not often. Practice round tickets (Monday–Wednesday) are significantly easier to get and offer excellent value: you can walk close to players on the driving range and fairways at a fraction of championship-day prices.

• →Practice rounds: typically £25–£45 per day. Get on the driving range early: the atmosphere is informal and player access is excellent.
• →Championship rounds: £60–£120+ per day. Prices vary by day: Saturday and Sunday cost more.
• →No gate sales on championship days. You must have a ticket in advance.
• →Ticket transfers: the R&A app allows transfer to another named person: watch for this on secondary markets.

Getting there: do not drive

Road closures around Birkdale during Open week make driving impractical. Parking near the course is reserved for officials only. The options are:

• →Merseyrail: the direct train from Southport to Birkdale station (10–15 min walk from the course) will be running enhanced services. Coming from Liverpool, take the Northern Line to Birkdale directly.
• →Park and ride: the R&A operates park-and-ride from multiple sites across Southport. Details published at theopen.com closer to the event.
• →Stay locally: if you're staying in Birkdale village or within a mile of the course, you can walk in every day.

What to bring

• →Small bag only: there are bag size restrictions at the entrance.
• →Waterproofs regardless of forecast. Open week weather is unpredictable.
• →Comfortable walking shoes. You will walk 5–8 miles per day on links terrain.
• →Binoculars. Useful for watching shots from distance, especially on par 5s and long par 4s.
• →Portable phone charger. You'll be tracking the leaderboard and filming all day.
• →Cash or card: both accepted, but queues at some food outlets are card-only.
• →Your ticket on the app: don't rely on a screenshot in poor signal.

The best spots on the course

For a first-timer, the area around the 1st tee and 18th green gives you the most atmosphere with the least walking. The 1st tee in the morning is spectacular: you'll be close to the players and can follow a group for the first few holes before coming back.

The par-3 holes: particularly the 12th: allow you to stand close to the green and watch several shots in quick succession without following a group all round the course. The 18th green is the place to be on Sunday afternoon if you can get there.

Where to stay

Accommodation in Southport and Birkdale for Open week is almost entirely booked. If you need somewhere: check Formby first (20 minutes by car from the course), then Ormskirk and Skelmersdale. Airbnb properties within 5 miles of Birkdale are your best option at this stage.

One final piece of advice

Don't spend all day staring at your phone tracking the leaderboard. Put it away for an hour, find a spot on a long par 4, and watch golf being played by the best players in the world on one of the great courses. That's the thing you came for.