Is the Open too expensive?

I?ve been here for three days and I?ve been haemorrhaging cash. On Wednesday, a practice day, my taxi from the Golf Monthly house (which cost a few thousand pounds for the week) to the course cost £8. On Thursday the same 10 minute journey back to Broughty Ferry cost £20. When I queried the taxi driver about the sharp upturn in rates he simply said, ?it?s Open week and we have special rates.?

These special rates are applied to all food and beverages at the tournament. Trapped within the course there?s little option other than to dig deep. After a wallet mugging visit to the beer tent I can reveal what an expensive outing this can be if you?ve forgotten your packed lunch:

Beef baguette £6.60

Fish and Chips £5.50

Chips £2.20

Bacon Bap £3.50

Pizza £4.60

Soft drinks £1.90

Coffee £2.20

Pint Beer £3.30

Baseball Cap £18

Polo Shirt £29

Entrance tickets are £50 and children under 16 get in for free with a paying adult. That may sound a little steep but compared to a pop concert or the theatre you are able to enjoy a full days golf with a field crammed with the world?s best players. You can watch the stars on the putting green or driving range. Autograph hunters wait outside the 18th for a glimpse of their players. But nothing can compare to the buzz and the camaraderie of watching first class golf with thousands of fans.

The R&A donates all profits to promoting the game of golf around the world. Recently the organisation has built a three tier driving range in Reykjavik, contributed to junior coaching and given bursaries to a number of UK universities. So remember when you buy a ticket your cash will be stretching further than the gate.