The view from The Open’s 17th hole is just insane!
By Matt Chivers
You’d better arrive early on Championship days at The Open if you want to get a precious view of Little Eye
A little Open tip for you. If you’re planning to sit upon the gaze of Little Eye – Royal Liverpool’s newest hole – get here early.
If you’re camping, I’d bring your tent. Bed down, queue up, do whatever you have to do because there aren’t many spaces and they’re not going to last long.
Why? Because the view is just incredible. We know that Hoylake chiefs had the 17th at Sawgrass in mind when they first dreamed up plans for an eye-catching par-3 to bring some championship drama.
But it isn’t just the hole that’s dramatic – 136 yards of absolute terror if the weather’s not playing ball or the tee shot is a little askew.
The set up is an absolute cauldron and it’s going to ring with noise when the Claret Jug is on the line on Sunday evening.
Check out the new Open 17th hole tee grandstand for a start, which makes it fell like the players are hitting through a chute.
Then move on to the green, where a compact bit of seating on the right of the hole and brings an incredible view across the sandscrapes, the big contoured green, and a particularly nasty bunker that looks set to blunt anyone’s challenge if their ball finds the bottom of it.
It’s one of the best views on the course too, looking out across the Dee Estuary and the majestic Wirral. Spectators are going to be making their way here early, and they’re probably going to stay all day.
For those of you not lucky to get a precious seat, don’t despair. There is still room to stand along the boundaries of the hole and it remains a pretty cool view looking up at a green in the sky as golf’s finest try to negotiate a par or a precious birdie.
But if you want a ‘front row’ seat when it all comes down to the wire, this is probably the best place on the course to get it.
Deep breath and take it all in.
What do you think of the new Open 17th hole? Let me know with a tweet.
Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
