The weird and wonderful things on sale in the Open merchandise shop
A trip to the Open is enough to send beads of sweat trickling down the face of my bank manager. Everyone knows a visit to golf’s oldest major simply isn’t complete without bagging a suitcase full of merch from the on-site shop and I never let the side down.
So let it not be said that I don’t look after you. If you are on your way to Royal St George’s this week, or if you just fancy a splurge online, I’ve already trudged my way round the superstore-sized outlet in the Open spectator village to find some diamonds for you.
Ball markers and tee pegs are a given. So let’s dive in and see what else we can find…
Is it still too painful? The sight of the cross of St George might fill you with pride – or sadness, depending on how you’re getting over England’s Euro 2020 final defeat against Italy – but the emblem is the standard for this year’s Open venue and it’s proudly emblazoned across one of many towels you can pick up. Gareth Southgate’s boys might not have been able to bring football home, but I’ll bet a few of these head off to some of your gaffs this week.
Is there a more iconic logo in golf than the Claret Jug? If you like to stand out from the crowd this Hugo Boss t-shirt will be right up your street. Not only will you be easy to spot when out on the fairways, you’ll also be visible from space.
It’s probably a bit early to ask them for yardages and wind direction but you can still treat the little caddie in your life by picking up this, quite frankly, adorable bib.
Only in a pandemic could something designed to prevent infection from a deadly disease also become a fashion accessory. Who knows what the future holds as far as masks are concerned – I’m sure Boris has his ideas – but as face coverings go this is definitely one of the more stylish I’ve seen. Now, where can I pick one up?
Those balls don’t look regulation size to me…
Lee Wybranski is the daddy of golf art. If he’s somehow passed you by, the American designs the posters for all of golf’s major championships and I’ve – unashamedly – got several walls full of them. His latest, depicting Royal St George’s instantly recognisable starter hut set against the backdrop of the Open grandstand and the famous yellow scoreboard, is a belter. The problem is: where am I going to hang this one?
What have you already snapped up from the Open shop? Or, if you’re on you way, is there anything you’ve got your eye on? Let me know in the comments, or tweet me.
How would you like to be part of Open history?
The R&A has announced details of how you can get tickets for the historic 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in 2022. Click here to find out more.
Subscribe to NCG
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.
