So, I was driving near Newport the other day, saw some signs going up. It clicked – yeah, the 44th Senior Open is just around the corner. They’re holding it at the Newport Country Club, end of June, I think June 27th to the 30th.
Newport Country Club, huh? It’s a classic spot, looks beautiful right by the water. But getting in and out of Newport during a big event? Man, I remember trying to navigate that area during the Tall Ships once. It gets absolutely packed. Parking’s probably going to be a nightmare unless you planned way ahead.
Thinking About Playing There?
It got me thinking about who actually plays in this thing. You hear “Senior Open” and maybe think it’s a bit more relaxed. Nope. These guys are serious golfers. First off, you gotta be over 50. Okay, getting closer for some of us, right? But then there’s the skill level.
To even try and qualify, you need a ridiculously low handicap. Something like 2.4 or better. Or you just have to be a pro. That cuts out pretty much everyone I know who plays golf for fun. It’s not just hitting the age requirement; you need to be playing incredibly well.
And the competition is fierce. They only have spots for 156 players in the actual tournament. But I heard for these things, like maybe the one next year, they get thousands, literally thousands, of people sending in entries hoping to qualify. Think about that.
- You’ve got past champions who get in automatically.
- You’ve got pros trying to make their mark on the senior circuit.
- You’ve got top amateurs who meet that crazy handicap rule.
All fighting for a small number of spots. It’s intense. So yeah, while it’s cool it’s happening locally at Newport, playing in it is a whole different world. Most of us are just gonna be spectators, dealing with the traffic!
