Golf - Playing 'Wembley' or 'Centre Court'es in US.

[Slaav]

Watching the US Open, I have been reminded of a chat with some mates when last playing golf.

What other sport (as in 'proper' International sport) would allow mere mortals to wander on to the equivalent of 'Centre Court' or even 'Wembley' and have a knock about?

I know they are completely different course set ups as a rule but I had the fortune to play Wentworth's West Course last week only a few days after the PGA torunament. (We started the chat whilst playing FInca Cortisan down in Spain the week after Poulter won there in the Matchplay so have been rather fortunate recently.)

Can you imagine or think of any other sport that allows this type of genuine involvelemnt?

And on the subject of Golf, I am kicking myself that I never played Pebble Beach last time I had the opportunity! Gutted....

Just looked up Congressional and cant see any way on Earth of getting on there - bit like Augusta I guess?

[5pen]

Cricket is one. I played cricket at the Antigua Recreation Ground the day after the test match finished in which Brian Lara had taken England for 400 runs. To be fair it's quite downmarket as test match venues go (and Antigua has a new venue ground now) and it's quite common in the Caribbean for regular players to play on the test match grounds I believe.

I've also played at the Oval - bit different as it was 6-a-side and there were two matches going on at the same time. I know a few club cricketers who've played at Lord's too.

[Slaav]

5pen said:

Cricket is one. I played cricket at the Antigua Recreation Ground the day after the test match finished in which Brian Lara had taken England for 400 runs. To be fair it's quite downmarket as test match venues go (and Antigua has a new venue ground now) and it's quite common in the Caribbean for regular players to play on the test match grounds I believe.

I've also played at the Oval - bit different as it was 6-a-side and there were two matches going on at the same time. I know a few club cricketers who've played at Lord's too.

I had no idea this happned in cricket to any degree; although have heard of big charity games being allowed on at Lords.

I cant imagine facing a ball at one of teh test grounds - must be somethign special!

[ewenm]

In Athletics Olympic stadia are often used for lesser meets and as the finishing venue for city marathons (unless they are UK Olympic Stadia in which case they are given to football clubs or knocked down )

Edited by ewenm on Sunday 19th June 22:40

[Pothole]

GP circuits?

[Beardy10]

Slaav said:

5pen said:

Cricket is one. I played cricket at the Antigua Recreation Ground the day after the test match finished in which Brian Lara had taken England for 400 runs. To be fair it's quite downmarket as test match venues go (and Antigua has a new venue ground now) and it's quite common in the Caribbean for regular players to play on the test match grounds I believe.

I've also played at the Oval - bit different as it was 6-a-side and there were two matches going on at the same time. I know a few club cricketers who've played at Lord's too.

I had no idea this happned in cricket to any degree; although have heard of big charity games being allowed on at Lords.

I cant imagine facing a ball at one of teh test grounds - must be somethign special!

They have the final of the major village cricket tournament at Lords.

It's possible to get on pretty much any golf course you just need to know people....I know a bloke that has played at Augusta, as a visitor you get to stay in that cabin where they do the green jacket ceremony. I do agree though it's definitely one of the great things about golf...I've played most of the courses on the Open rota and quite a few of the other big name course in the UK and Europe....it's a brilliant thing to do. Some courses make you feel "special" because they let so few visitors on (e.g. Muirfield) others will let pretty much anyone on and are really crowded (e.g. St Andrews).

Downhill skiing ? You can ski any course the pro's do.

Most of the Premier League teams let companies hire out the pitch at the end of the season....Arsenal and Chelsea for starters.

Edited by Beardy10 on Sunday 19th June 22:59

[Slaav]

Beardy10 said:

They have the final of the major village cricket tournament at Lords.

That must be one hell of a hoot! (I assume they move the boundary in slightly? )

[Beardy10]

Slaav said:

Beardy10 said:

They have the final of the major village cricket tournament at Lords.

That must be one hell of a hoot! (I assume they move the boundary in slightly? )

Would be bloody amazing! I am sure they use the full boundary....it will be a decent standard. I used to play village cricket and you come across some pretty decent players every now and again....once played against a young Pakistani lad who went on to play test cricket a couple of times.