Hoylake is little more than a village, some 20-odd miles from Liverpool, which is located on the other side of the Dee Estuary.
If it weren’t for the Open Championship, the chances are that you would never have heard of it. But the locals are glad that you have. Almost every shop has a picture of the claret jug in the window; outside every pub is a food board featuring the most famous trophy in golf.
For this week, everything in the area centers on the old game. And the locals who love it most are the ones who take the somewhat cushy option of renting out their homes to players, management companies, agents and equipment manufacturers.
The going rate for the week seems be in the region of £8,000-£10,000 ($13,650-$17,000). Tax-free, presumably. This being a fairly affluent part of northwest England, some of the homes being occupied are pretty impressive. But it still seems like a lucrative little number for those who opt to cash in.
One home owner, who asked not be named, explained: “The Open doesn’t come here very often. It was last here in 2006 and before that it was 1967. When we heard they were coming back, we decided that we were going to take advantage, so we got on the Internet and found somebody who was able to put us in touch with the right people. We have Paul Casey staying in our house, and we have moved in with my wife’s parents for the week.”
And how much had he been paid? “Away man, I’m not going to tell you that,” he replied. “All you need to know is that we got a tidy sum. We move back in on Monday to clean up the house and head off on holiday on Wednesday. Lovely job.”
Within a couple of days, nobody will ever know The Open had been here. The course has been staffed by hundreds of litter pickers, and you have never seen anything like them — there is not a sweep wrapper or a cigarette end to be found anywhere on the course. As soon as a piece of paper hits the ground, it is swooped up.
Eating and drinking at the course is not cheap, but local shops, pubs and restaurants should take a bow for refusing to exploit the thousands of people staying in the area.
One pub no more than a couple of miles from the course has been advertising beer for £2.20 ($3.75) a pint and two meals (that’s TWO meals, served on a plate, with a knife and fork and everything) for £8.50 ($14.50).
Hoylake, you have done yourself proud.
Related Link: Complete Open Championship Coverage
More Open Championship Coverage:
– Round 3 Recap: Rickie vs. Rory For Open Championship
– Defending Open Champion Phil Mickelson’s Struggles Continue
– Remembering Renown Coach Bob Torrance
– 2014 Open Championship: Best Day 2 Style
– 5 Biggest Surprises Entering 2014 Open Championship Weekend
– Round 2 Recap: Everyone Chasing McIlroy at Open Championship
– Coetzee’s Climb Highlights Friday Morning at Open Championship
– An Octopus’ Garden In The Shade
– Billy Horschel to Wear Snakeskin Pants, Camo Polo at The Open
– The Fringe: Mickelson Gives Up Jug & Crane’s Long Journey
– Live from Liverpool: Open Championship Notebook Round 2
– 2014 Open Championship: Best Day 1 Style
– Round 1 Recap: McIlroy Leads Open Championship, Tiger Lurking
– Photos: Open Championship – Round 1
– Bubba Watson, Rory McIlroy Can’t Name The Beatles
– 2014 Open Championship’s Hole of the Day: Royal Liverpool’s 1st
– Rickie Fowler, Charl Schwartzel Pelt Exact Same Marshal on 16
– 2014 Open Championship Round 2 Tee Times and Pairings
– Golfers Do Impressions of Famed Announcer Ivor Robson
– 9 Best Golfers Yet to Win a Major
– Throwback Thursday: Royal Liverpool Champions
– Live from Liverpool: Open Championship Notebook Round 1
– Forklift Driver John Singleton Hangs with Pros at Open Championship
– Tiger Woods Shoots 3-Under, Getting ‘Sharper and Stronger’
– Ernie Els Has A Brain Cramp On First Hole
– Tiger Woods Hits Guy In The Face With Drive
– Henrik Stenson Breaks (Another) Club at Open Championship
– Inside The Ropes: Player Photos & Reactions From Royal Liverpool
– Golfstradamaus: 2014 Open Championship
– Erik Compton Living in the Now in 1st Trip to Open Championship
– Top 9 Moments in Open Championship History
– R&A Tries to Curb Betting, Has Players Sign Waivers
– Aye Aye Captain: SpongeBob GolfPants Return!
– 9 Best Groups To Watch at 2014 Open Championship
– Ian Poulter Has Arsenal Backing Him at Open Championship
– Despite Ranking, No One Better Than Martin Kaymer Right Now
– Best Fans at the Open Championship
– Pics: 2014 Open Championship Preview
– Top 9 Moments at Royal Liverpool
– Tiger Woods Believes He Can Win 2014 Open Championship
– 9 Craziest Open Championship Fan Outfits
– Will Ferrell Picks ‘The French’ To Win Open Championship
– Open Championship 2014: PUMA Golf Players Scripting
– Open Championship 2014: Nike Golf Players Scripting
– Open Championship 2014: Under Armour Scripting
– Open Championship 2014: adidas Golf Player Scripting
– Open Championship 2014: Oakley Scripting
– By the Numbers: Open Championship History
– The Odds: Adam Scott, Justin Rose Co-Favorites at The Open
– 9 Weird & Wild Open Championship Moments
– A Look at Open Championship Fashion Through the Years
– The Open Championship: Royal Liverpool Hole-By-Hole
– Many Things, Like Ladybugs, Have Filled Claret Jug
– Oh, the Places Golf’s Majors Trophies Have Been
– The Magnificent Seven: Who To Follow at Open Championship
– 9 Best Players Never to Win the Open Championship
– 15 Years Later: Jean Van de Velde’s Collapse at Carnoustie
– Open Championship Flashback: Tiger Woods Storms Hoylake in ’06
– Drone Captures Incredible Footage of Royal Liverpool
– Factory Worker Qualifies For The Open With Borrowed Clubs
– Daly Can’t Wait to See Tiger at Royal Liverpool
