Tiger Woods with Claret Jug
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With the World Cup in Germany blighted by touts selling tickets at least ten times their face value, experts are predicting the same could happen at the Open Championship at Hoylake later this month.
While fanatical English fans, sadly, have no further interest in obtaining tickets for this week's World Cup semi-finals, black marketeers will still have a field day among the remaining nations' supporters and could make a killing around the Wirral course.
With less than four weeks to go to the start of the 135 Open at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, the National Golf Clubs' Advisory Association (NGCAA) is concerned that unscrupulous touts will cash in as thousands flock to see UK stars Colin Montgomerie, David Howell and local hero Nick Dougherty, take on Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els.
National secretary at the NGCAA, Michael Shaw, says: "High demand tickets are already selling on online auction sites for more than three times their face value (over £150). And prices for tickets such as final day, season tickets and reserved grandstand seats will escalate as the tournament draws closer and ticket touts return from the World Cup in Germany.
"The Royal and Ancient Golf Club has been outstanding in its pricing and allocation of tickets but if demand outstrips supply, tickets will invariably fall into the wrong hands and real fans will be left facing extortionate re-sale prices."
Unlike legislation implemented ahead of this year's World Cup and the proposed Olympic Bill, there is no rule outlawing the re-sale of tickets for golf events. Similarly Wimbledon, theatre, music and other sporting events such as rugby and cricket have no legal protection against ticket touting.
Although the Government is working with ticketing agencies to address ticket touting, any action is likely to be too late to protect Open Championship fans.
With this in mind, Shaw is advising golf clubs and
sponsors, who often receive preferential ticket allocations, golfers and golf fans to be wary about how they handle their tickets.
"The Government, event organisers and promoters, and
ticketing agencies are due to meet again next month," he reveals "and hopefully we are moving closer to stamping out a problem that ruins so many sporting and
entertainment events for thousands of fans.
"If people with Open Championship tickets find that they are unable to attend the event or have extra tickets, our appeal is to sell them at face value to they know and will appreciate them. This will ensure that real fans get
tickets and help take the bottom out of the ticketing black market."
The Open Championship will be held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on Merseyside from Thursday July 20 to Sunday, July 23.
Tell us on the forum if you have paid over the odds for a ticket to a sporting event. Would you succumb to the touts for an Open ticket or one to watch the Ryder Cup?
