Pot Bunkers & Sideways Rain: Why The Open Championship is My New Favorite Reality Show

Last week, I wrote about setting my alarm for 4:00 AM to fully embrace the weird, time-zone-bending culture of the Open Championship. Well, the first round officially kicks off tomorrow morning, and I am actually doing it. My alarm is set, I've apologized in advance to my twin snake plants, Enzo and George, and my coffee maker is prepped for a massive brew so I can watch my first official British major.

If the practice rounds earlier this week are any indication, I am in for a wild ride. I expected a polite, quiet morning of overseas sports. Instead, I am about to watch millionaires try to survive a coastal hurricane.

A scenic view of the world's most glamorous, wind-swept survival show

As someone who consumes a slightly unhealthy amount of reality television, I can confidently say that Survivor has absolutely nothing on Royal Birkdale. If you, like me, are somewhat new to the golf world and are trying to figure out why everyone is so obsessed with this week, here is what I am bracing myself for tomorrow morning:

• The Wardrobe Malfunctions: American golf usually features pastel polos and perfectly creased pants. Over there? It’s pure chaos. Players are layered in heavy rain suits, battling umbrellas that keep snapping inside out in the 30mph wind. Half of the field looks like they are preparing for a deep-sea fishing expedition rather than a golf tournament.
  

• The True Crime Bunkers: I listen to enough true crime podcasts to recognize a dangerous situation, and the "pot bunkers" at Royal Birkdale are terrifying. They aren’t just sand traps; they are subterranean pits with walls built out of stacked sod. When a player's ball goes in there, it’s basically an unsolved mystery if it will ever come out.
  

• The Ground Game: Because the wind is howling off the coast, the pros can't hit the ball high in the air. They are literally rolling the ball along the ground from 100 yards away, hoping it doesn't hit a weird bump and bounce into the rough. It is chaotic, unpredictable, and incredibly entertaining to watch.
  

Thank goodness we don't have 10-foot-deep pits of despair here at Oxford Greens.

If watching the world's best players struggle to break par in the English rain makes you want to appreciate our sunny, green fairways, this is your weekend to get out there. Leave the heavy rain gear at home—all you need is a sleeve of extra golf balls and some sunscreen.

What is the craziest thing you've seen on the practice round broadcasts so far this week? Drop your favorite Open Championship moments in the comments below! 👇

ESCAPE THE WEATHER AT THE LOUNGE

If you decided to skip the 4:00 AM alarm and want to catch the afternoon re-broadcasts, come join us at the lounge. I highly recommend pairing the TV coverage with an astonishing amount of cheese—specifically our signature quesadillas.

👉 Check Out the Bar & Grill Menu

☀️ CHASE THE SUN THIS WEEKEND

While the pros are battling sideways rain in England, our weekend forecast looks spectacular. The Boardshorts & Birdies luau bracket is officially locked and loaded, but we still have plenty of open tee times for you to get out there and mimic those overseas roll-outs. Lock in your weekend tee time right here before the sheet fills up!