US Open Qualifying at Walton Heath

Whether it’s the Ashes, Wimbledon, Six Nations, Premiership football, Grand Prix or any other live professional sport you might be tempted to go and watch, the one thing you know they have in common is the price – a steep one.  In these days of thinning wallets, it leaves you with a tough decision to make if you really want to go.

As far as golf is concerned, the opportunity to indulge only comes around once or perhaps twice a year depending on where The Open is being played and how far you’re prepared to travel.  The BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth started today and offers those of us in the UK one of very few opportunities to watch the leading players in the world up close as they tackle the famous West Course in the European Tour’s flagship event. It’s an ever-popular and outstanding event and the ticket price in itself is pretty reasonable, but, as with all other sporting events, once you’ve factored in the travel costs, food, drinks and any other purchases you might decide to make, it turns into quite a pricey day out.

One of the big differences with golf to other sports is the opportunity to watch the pros for free at some less-publicised events that cost nothing to enter as a spectator.  This Bank Holiday Monday, Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey hosts US Open Qualifying.  It will be the ninth consecutive time US Open Qualifying has been held there and for the uninitiated, this is live golf at its best, played at one of England’s finest golf clubs.  Qualifying makes use of both the Old Course and New Course, with around 80 players competing for somewhere in the region of a dozen spots at the US Open a few weeks later. It’s often a bit of a ‘shoot out’, with aggressive play and birdie runs being the only passport to qualification.  There’s no time to play conservatively.

But it’s the experience of watching here that is rather unique. It’s a splendid return to a bygone era of watching golf, with no ropes or barriers, where spectators can walk alongside the competitors, listening to the player-caddy chat and being very much part of the action. It’s a one day event without all of the hullaballoo that comes with a normal tour event.  So that means packing a picnic rather than splurging on an overpriced meal in the tented village.  Wander over to the scoreboard outside the clubhouse, and in all likelihood you’ll be stood checking the scores alongside a Colin Montgomerie or Ross Fisher. They might even be happy to chat and share their thoughts about their round – though you might want to make sure it was a good score before you try to engage them in conversation.  At times this feels like a “money can’t buy” experience and the best news is that it is – money can’t buy it because it doesn’t cost a penny.

So, if you’re look for something different to do this Bank Holiday Monday and fancy strolling the fairways with some world-class golfers, then a free day out at Walton Heath might be just the thing.