Heading to The Open? This is the best place to watch action at St Andrews

For all that we love St Andrews’ Old Course, when it comes to watching the action at The Open it can be a bit, well, challenging.

You’re largely confined to the outsides of the layout – sometimes glancing a furtive look from behind the ropes at relative specks on distant double greens.

Add in record breaking crowds – some 290,000 people are expected to tread the hallowed turf during this 150th battle for the Claret Jug – and getting a prime view of your heroes can require a little bit of detective work.

I’ve done the graft for you. But you’re going to need to put in some spade work too. It’s quite a walk. In the humble opinion of this golf watcher, though, you’ll be rewarded with the best view on the course.

Where can you find such a precious spot? It’s the grandstand that flanks the 11th hole.

If you’ve ever looked at a course plan of St Andrews, it looks a bit like a shepherd’s crook. You follow a relatively straight line out, curve at the top, and then follow it back home towards the town.

Round that loop are a collection of holes that produce an unrivalled spot. If you’re initially parked by the 1st tee and 18th green – don’t ever forget to tick the box on that – it’s a good 20-minute walk to get out to that grandstand.

But find yourself a spot in there and you’ll be able to see the players from the 11th tee and green, the 6th and 8th green pan out right in front you, and the 7th green is off to your left.

Those of you who don’t mind heights and get right to the top can swivel their heads and look back across the course.

So why crane your necks? Add a few steps to your journey and enjoy watching history unfold within the comfort of a grandstand seat. You won’t regret it.

Do you have a special spot from where to watch The Open action? Why not let me know by tweeting me.

Visit our dedicated Open website for more from golf’s oldest major

The R&A has announced details of how you can get tickets for the historic 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool in 2023. Click here to find out more.

Steve Carroll

A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.

Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.

What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.