How far does £250 go in The Open shop?

If you went to The Open but didn’t visit The Shop, did you really go?

Just like the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon this week, its really a place you ought to visit during your pilgrimage.

This year, the 24,000sq ft retail Disneyland is located just a flick of a wedge away from the 16th fairway, right at the heart of the spectator village. Don’t worry, you can’t miss it.

And if there’s something – anything – you can print a Claret Jug on, this is where you’ll find it. Golf bags, keyrings, ball markers, jigsaws, cuddly toys – the lot. If you forget your umbrella (which you’ll need) later on in the week, they’ve got you covered there too.

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Fortunately, there’s not quite as much chaos here as you’ll find at the Masters shop in Augusta National. Our man Michael McEwan survived that particular battleground in April – and came out of it with a new wardrobe.

The bizarre gnome craze hasn’t crossed the Atlantic to south Ayrshire just yet either, so fans can at least enjoy a civilised walk and explore the giant merch tent.

Just be warned, though, that 250,000 fans are expected through the gates this week. The earlier you get to the merch tent, the better chance you’ve got of picking up the most sought after items.

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Which is exactly why we took the opportunity to saunter down in the sun early on Monday afternoon, with the crowds quiet and the anticipation quietly building ahead of the final major of the season.

£250 was the budget. Here’s how we got on….

FootJoy Heather Grey Lightweight Hoodie – £100

The Open cap – £30

The 152nd Open Pin Flag – £25

The Open 40×50 Tartan Towel – £20

Pom Driver Cover – £50

Navy water battle – £25

TOTAL: £250

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.