The Open 2011 diary: Sandwich shops remain out of bounds thanks to the R&A’s no returns policy
Ghost town: Sandwich town centre is not as busy as you might expect
What should be a time of plenty for the local traders has actually been a bit of a disaster due to the R&A’s single-entry ticketing policy which effectively keeps spectators confined to the course.
While other Open venues permit fans to come and go, they are locked in at Royal St George’s due to concerns over traffic problems in Sandwich.
Perish the thought that forcing them to buy their lunches at R&A sanctioned catering outlets around the course could have anything to do with the policy.
However the shopkeepers are still seething. “It turns Sandwich into a ghost town,” said Sue Caton, of All Things Nice coffee shop.
Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts becomes a crash dummy
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Golfers have suffered some wacky injuries down the years, and Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts earned instant notoriety with the mishap that caused him to withdraw from the tournament.
Colsaerts had figured that a rented scooter would be just the thing for whizzing around Sandwich in Open week, but he whizzed the thing into a kerb, fell off and damaged his elbow.
Despite intensive treatment, Colsaerts pulled out shortly before his first round.
Ian Poulter in shock Open cover-up
A cherished Open tradition bit the dust as the bracing conditions meant that Ian Poulter kept his opening-day outfit under wraps.
This year’s creation was a restrained blue-and-white arrangement, honouring the memory of Seve Ballesteros, but the weather meant it was obscured by Poulter’s rainwear.
“I’ve never seen you dressed so boringly,” observed one reporter. “It was cold, so I put my wets on,” Poulter replied.
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