The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)

Happy campers set to flock to the Open at Carnoustie.

Carnoustie: High school village will include a range of tents already pitched

- graeme strachan gstrachan@thecourier.co.uk

Early demand for camping spots at this summer’s Open golf championsh­ip in Carnoustie is high.

Carnoustie High School will be transforme­d into “Tee in the Park” from July 15 to 22 and additional bed spaces have now been released.

The 1,250 capacity camping village will include a range of two, four and six person tents which are already pitched and ready for campers, plus inflatable camp beds for each guest.

A spokesman for the R&A said: “The main reason for providing the Open Camping Village is to make the championsh­ip more affordable and accessible for young people and families.

“The customer feedback we have received in the first two years has been overwhelmi­ngly positive and the demand we are experienci­ng this year points to repeat bookings and positive word of mouth from those who attended in previous years.”

The total capacity for the camping village has been increased by 250 bed spaces per night compared to last year.

And already 60% of the spaces have been allocated for the four

The demand weare experienci­ng this year points to repeat bookings and positive wordof mouth from those who attended in previous years. R&A SPOKESMAN

championsh­ip days. There has been healthy demand across the wider week of the event, pointing to a large number of weekly tickets for the Open being sold.

Free places for youth ticket holders are in high demand with limited number of spaces now available over the four championsh­ip days.

Extra premium glamping tents are also in demand.

Golf’s governing body has decided to channel the modern music festival on a sporting scale since the campsite was first introduced back at Royal Troon in 2016.

Last year 3,000 campers took advantage of the initiative when it returned at Royal Birkdale and pitches sold out on the Friday and Saturday of the championsh­ip.

Shower and toilet block facilities will be situated throughout the campsite and there will be football pitches and other games available for campers to enjoy.

Youth ticket holders aged 16 to 24 are eligible to camp for free.

Adult ticket holders can stay at the village from £40 per night.

Around 30,000 golf fans under the age of 25 attended the Open in 2017, including 15,000 juniors who attended free of charge as part of the Kids go Free initiative.

More than 300,000 junior spectators have attended the Open free of charge since the Kids Go Free initiative was introduced at Royal Troon back in 1997.

It is 12 years since the event was last held in Carnoustie and the links returned to the Open rota in 1999 after a 24-year gap.

 ?? Picture: Kris Miller. ?? The total capacity for the camping village has been increased by 250 bed spaces per night compared to last year.
Picture: Kris Miller. The total capacity for the camping village has been increased by 250 bed spaces per night compared to last year.

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