Celebrate the 150th anniversary of The Open
The Open Championship will mark its 150th anniversary at St Andrews in July - and the celebrations will highlight a subtle shift in the way women enjoy sporting spectacles.
The R&A and the official hospitality team from Sodexo Prestige have pulled together elements from golfing history and the host nation to mark the occasion.
The event will be a glorious celebration of past and present, including a parade of past champions, all complemented by top quality Scottish food, fresh produce, and a taste of history in the hospitality packages.
Those packages are expected to increasingly appeal to women, who are taking up golf in growing numbers and who are having an ever-greater impact in the business world.
Traditionally, men have had the monopoly on corporate entertainment but the growing number of women involved in business has meant a shift in hospitality trends to accommodate their tastes.
There is an increasing demand for events to meet the needs of mixed groups and with more female executives around, this has influenced a move towards more wider-interest events, such as The Open.
Golf is a game which is proving increasingly attractive to women and recent research shows that the number of women taking part in the sport is growing, both in England and across Great Britain. For example, the Active People Survey by Sport England found that in this country alone female participation had increased by 18,000 from 2005/6 to 2007/8. The English Women’s Golf Association, which has over 115,000 members in more than 1780 golf clubs, is actively involved in strategies to encourage more women to take up the game.
The Open Championship, which takes place from 15-18 July and will showcase the world’s best players, is guaranteed to create even more interest in the game.
Spectators can make their trip even more memorable by taking advantage of one of the hospitality packages on offer.
These include a celebratory Sportsman’s Dinner when guests will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with 1969 champion Tony Jacklin.
The golf legend is the Official Hospitality Ambassador and guest speaker at the Sportsman’s Dinner on the 14th July 2010 in The R&A Links Restaurant beside the 1st Tee.
The celebration will follow a unique event when past champions play four holes on the Old Course – the 1st, 2nd, 17th and 18th – in celebration of the 150th anniversary of golf’s oldest Major. An invitation to compete has been extended to all 32 living Open champions.
Afterwards, guests will retire for a champagne and canapé reception followed by the four-course, sit-down Sportsman’s Dinner accompanied by fine wines. BBC sports commentator John Inverdale, who will host the evening, will introduce former champion Tony Jacklin as the guest speaker. Guests at the dinner will be invited to take home an exclusive 150th Anniversary gift.
Tony Jacklin commented: “I am proud to be the Official Hospitality Ambassador at The Open Championship in this historic year. The Open is extremely special for me and I am delighted that the level of services for the anniversary year is of an exceptional quality and look forward to welcoming you at The Open in July.”
Tony Jacklin revitalised British and, ultimately, European golf with his extraordinary accomplishments. After winning the 1969 Open Championship he went on to capture the U.S. Open in the following year. In addition to playing in seven Ryder Cups, he captained Europe in four consecutive matches from 1983 to 1989, leading the team to their first victory for 28 years in 1985, and to their first ever victory in the United States in 1987.
Other hospitality packages include The Road Hole VIP Fine Dining package, located on the top floor of the Old Course Hotel, a must-visit gourmet destination for all food lovers. The restaurant and bar, awarded Whisky Bar of the World 2008 in the ‘Icons of Whisky’, with its dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows and an open deck is the most attractive place to watch the world's best golfers take on the renowned Road Hole. The package also includes reserved grandstand seats at the 17th Grandstand.
Alternatively, the exclusive Clubhouse packages in the tented Hospitality Village are an innovation which was introduced in 2009, offering flexibility throughout the day. Follow your favourite player on the links and then retire to the comfort and sanctuary of the Clubhouse, with informal areas for eating and relaxing throughout the day.
To find out more about the packages available at the 2010 Open Championship, visit: www.opengolfofficialhospitality.com
WIN two tickets to the final day of the 150th anniversary Open Championship at St Andrews.
All you have to do is answer one simple question: Who won the Open when it was last held at St Andrews in 2005?
Send your answer by email or post to: Lorraine Blake, Sodexo Prestige, Surrey House, Plane Tree Crescent, Feltham, Middlesex, TW13 7HF.
Email: lorraine.blake@sodexo.com
The closing date for entries is 1 June 2010. All entries will go into a draw and the first correct answer drawn after the closing date will win two tickets to the final day of The Open on Sunday, July 18.
