Caravan Couple Pitch Up for Bargain View of the Open

There are many ways to watch the 133rd Open Championship, which begins at Royal Troon golf club in Ayrshire today, but few offer better value for money than the view from the back window of Ronnie and Thelma Stoddart's caravan.

The Stoddarts, from Kilmarnock, are dedicated golf followers and for years have travelled to the Open regardless of where it has been played. Seldom, though, can they have had a better spot to watch the four days of competition unfold than the grounds of Prestwick holiday park, next to the course.

While upwards of 30,000 spectators will pay £40 for the privilege of trudging round the famously breezy links every day until Sunday, the Stoddarts need only pull their curtains to see the action on the 9th green and the 10th tee.

Despite the best efforts of the golf club, which has planted a row of trees to obscure the caravan park from the television cameras, several of the caravans offer excellent views of the furthest corner of the course.

"We're very happy with the view we've got from here," said Mr Stoddart yesterday as he prepared for his umpteenth Open with a glass of wine. "We came back from a lovely tour on the Algarve especially for this and we knew we'd have a fair position. You used to be able to see more than you can now but the club have planted a load of trees. I don't think they were worried about us looking over the fence, but they want the course to look as grand as possible and caravans aren't the ideal sight.

"We may pop in to see a little of the practice rounds because they are when you get the best chance to see the players, but we shall not bother going in while it's on. We'll watch it on the TV here with a few friends and family, and then turn round when the groups reach the 10th tee."

The Stoddarts' bargain vantage point contrasts with the venue for the last Open, Royal St George's in Sandwich, Kent, which is bordered by some of the most expensive homes in the UK accessible only by private road.

Troon is a very different course, with the ocean on one side, a railway line on the other, and Prestwick airport little more than a three iron away.

The airport has seen more than 30 private jets land in the past week as multi-millionaire players including favourites Ernie Els, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson touched down for the highlight of the golf year. The high-rollers could be less well served than the Stoddarts however when it comes to the view from their rented accommodation.

Many of the largest houses bordering the course have had their vistas blocked by hospitality tents, while the views from the £295-a-night Marine hotel, which adjoins the club house, are obscured by grandstands.

Regardless of where they watch from, however, the visitors are all welcomed by the local economy, which will receive £35m from the influx of an estimated 220,000 people during Open week.

"It's massively important to the area and an unrivalled opportunity in terms of marketing the area and letting people know what we have to offer," said Richard Petrie, of Ayrshire and Arran tourist board.

Local home owners will profit by renting out their houses. As with most venues on the Open roster, Troon is not within easy reach of sufficient hotel rooms to accommodate every visitor.

It is within an hour of Glasgow, but for the golfers required to tee off in the early morning that is too far, which puts a premium on the 5,000 beds available in the area.

Many of the lower-ranked players and qualifiers among the 156-strong field will have to make do with berths in B&Bs, or even alongside the Stoddarts, but for players such as Woods there is no such problem. He has rented a £1m home overlooking the course.