Preparations are well under way to welcome The Open back to Hoylake this summer.
It begins with practice days from Sunday 16 – Wednesday 19 July, with the competition taking place from Thursday 20 – Sunday 23 July.
Organisers, The R&A, say they are expecting some of the biggest ever crowds for the competition. Work has been ongoing since March to build the infrastructure on the Royal Liverpool Golf Course, with the championship main stand already complete.
Here we look at the impact the event will have on people living in Hoylake and West Kirby.
Tickets
Tickets for the event were allocated through a ballot last year, but some are still available at face value through the official resale site here.
Economic benefit
Wirral Council says the event will put the borough “in the international spotlight” and it is working to make sure local businesses benefit. It will be producing an Open Business Toolkit with hints and tips on making the most of the Open, whether to wear golf shoes such as Mens Under Armour Golf Shoes or not.
The R&A claims the event has an economic benefit of £150 million and reaches 600 million TV viewers in 200 territories.
Railway line between Hoylake and West Kirby
Trains to and from Liverpool will start and terminate at Hoylake from Thursday 13 July – Tuesday 25 July, with a rail replacement bus service in operation.
The Carr Lane car park from opposite Hoylake Train station will be shut from Saturday 15 July – Monday 24 July.
Public access to the rights of way across the Royal Liverpool Golf Course
The two routes across the course from Meols Drive to Stanley Road, and Pinfold Lane to the beach, will be closed from Monday 26 June – Monday 31 July.
Former Hoylake Municipal Golf Course and Greenbank Road playing fields
There will be no public access during the week of the Championship as it is being used as a practice ground, and to provide essential facilities for the event.
Highways
There will be road diversions and traffic restrictions to restrict visitors to the event from parking inconsiderately. There will also be changes to bin collections. Details will be announced by Wirral Council in due course.
Wirral Circular Cycle Trail
A section of the route along King’s Gap and part of North Parade will be closed from Sunday 16 July – Monday 24 July and a diversion will be in operation.
Further information
A guide will be circulated to local residents and businesses, which will also be available at a temporary public drop-in office which will be set up at the former Municipal Golf Club building on Carr Lane in Hoylake.
Residents are also being encouraged to sign up to a new e-newsletter about the Open – you can register here.
More information will also be available at https://www.wirral.gov.uk/open-2023-wirral.
A council spokesperson added: “With such a major sporting event there will be some changes for local residents and businesses during The Open as well as in the run-up to it and for a brief time afterwards.
“Over the coming weeks we will be letting people know about some of the things which will need to be put in place as well as the work that will be done to minimise the impact as far as possible for local people.”