TV viewers will be swept in at the actual height of the golf ball as it flies into Royal Troon’s fabled Postage Stamp hole in the 145th Open Championship this July.
A wire camera at the shortest hole in Open golf will be one of the innovations at Troon as Sky Sports and the US network NBC take over as primary broadcasters of the championship.
The camera will be strung to the right of the hole, just above the height of the main grandstand covering the iconic Stamp, which could be played as short as 99 yards in the championship, depending on wind conditions.
Rhodri Price, the director of championship operations for the R&A said that the Postage Stamp, the eighth on the Troon championship course, “screams out as the feature hole” and that the reduced length provided the scope to use a wire camera for the first time.
“We’ve been desperate to put a wire camera into an Open venue for many years but due to the playing conditions of golf in terms of ball flight, particularly the likes of Bubba Watson, it is very difficult normally to place a wire camera on the course without it getting in the way of play,” said Price.
“We recognised that, due to the short distance of the Postage Stamp, there was scope to get a wire camera in there on this iconic part of the golf course with the wonderful views.
“It will go all the way from the tee to a little winter green to left of the green. We are expecting that to be quite a challenging production there.”
Wire cameras are commonly used in sports stadia for soccer, rugby and American football to place TV spectators above the heart of the action, and have been used in golf at the TPC at Sawgrass’ famous 17th hole in the Players Championship.
Returning to Troon for the first time since 2004, the Ayrshire venue is one of the least altered on the Open rota, with just 15 yards added since Todd Hamilton defeated Ernie Els in a play-off 12 years ago.
There has been some minor changes out at the turn and a realignment of the 15th fairway with four new fairway bunkers added there, as well as some new grandstanding and viewing areas added, but most of the major innovations are off course.
The practice ground is being enhanced with a new videoboard featuring pro-tracer technology for spectators there and designated autograph areas.
In an entirely new move, the R&A will provide a free camping village for 500 people with tents and bedding provided at a site close to the course.
The village is intended for under-25s and for families with food and drink options and shower facilities provided on site.
The Open will also have two starters on the first tee to succeed long-time fixture Ivor Robson, who retired last year.
David Lancaster (59) who runs a company specialising in training individuals and companies for presentations, will share duties with Matt Corker (63), an associate in Lancaster’s business.
