The Ricoh Women’s British Open - June Briefing Note

The Ricoh Women’s British Open 13 - 16 September 2012

The Ricoh Women’s British Open is one of the golfing highlights of the sporting calendar. In its 37th year, this year’s Championship makes its first appearance at one of the most famous and historic links courses in the UK, Royal Liverpool Golf Club at Hoylake. The seaside club has been host to 11 Open Championships and is a fitting stage for the world’s leading players to perform, over what will be 4 memorable days from the 13th – 16th of September, 2012.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open is one of the most exciting Majors in golf. As the only women’s Major played outside the US it is the most international with the 2011 field boasting players from over 20 different nations, including the world’s top 15. The field for 2012 will be equally as strong and will include the reigning champion , Americans Michelle Wie and , winners Melissa Reid, and Laura Davies amongst others.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU) in 1976 and is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company. The event has been co-sanctioned by the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and (LET) since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.

For more information on the Championship including how to buy tickets please visit the website at www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com

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Traffic and Travel Plan At Wirral Council we have been working together with Merseyside Police, Merseytravel, Merseyrail, the bus operators and the event organisers IMG and the LGU to make sure everything runs like clockwork. So here is our step-by- step guide for Wirral residents with all the traffic and travel arrangements, safety advice and other information you might need.

Getting on course Whether you are planning to come to The Ricoh Women’s British Open, or just going about your normal business we want to make sure you can do so with the minimum of disruption. We have made every effort to take into account the needs of the local community as well as spectators when planning the event, but everyone can help things run smoothly by following the information below.

On FOOT If you live within walking distance of the course, follow the signed pedestrian routes to enter the course at Pinfold Lane or the footpath opposite Morpeth Road. There is no access for spectators via the main entrance on Meols Drive or via Stanley Road.

By TRAIN Hoylake Station is a 5-minute walk from the entrance to the course and trains will run direct from Liverpool every 15 minutes except for Sunday when they will run every 30 minutes. The journey time is just 36 minutes and trains will run from 6.20am with the last train returning from Hoylake at 11.04pm. (This information is correct on the current timetable, which runs until 24 th August).

Train services from Hoylake to West Kirby will be suspended from Thursday 6th September for a total of 13 days. This is to allow for construction of a level crossing from Morpeth Road to the practice ground and safe access for players and spectators to the official Practice Ground on Hoylake Municipal Golf Course. Replacement buses will operate, replicating the suspended rail service until it re-opens for normal service on Wednesday 20 September.

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A temporary track crossing will be constructed across the closed line adjacent to Morpeth Road to enable competitors and spectators access between Royal Liverpool Golf Course and the Practice Ground.

Trains will only use the Down Line (i.e. the West Kirby bound platform) for arrivals and departures from Hoylake Station. More information on public transport in Merseyside is available by logging on to www.merseytravel.gov.uk or calling Traveline on 0870 200 22 33.

By BUS The schedule of bus services serving the area:

Monday - Friday daytime

Number To/From Via Operator Freq West Kirby - 30 38 New Ferry Hoylake, Moreton, Birkenhead First mins West Kirby - 30 39 New Brighton Hoylake, Moreton Liscard Impera mins Birkenhead - West Kirby Arrowe Park, Moreton, Hoylake, 30 83/83A Circular Greasby Avon mins Meols - West Avon 60 138 Kirby Circular Hoylake, West Kirby, Newton (sub) mins

Saturday daytime

Number To/From Via Operator Freq West Kirby - 30 38 New Ferry Hoylake, Moreton, Birkenhead First mins West Kirby - 30 39 New Brighton Hoylake, Moreton Liscard Impera mins Meols - West Avon 60 138 Kirby Circular Hoylake, West Kirby, Newton (sub) mins

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Evenings & Sundays

Number To/From Via Operator Freq West Kirby - 60 39 New Brighton Hoylake, Moreton Liscard Impera mins Mill Park - Bromborough, Clatterbridge, 60 86/87 Leasowe Heswall, Avon mins West Kirby, Hoylake, Moreton

In Addition service 437 operated by Arriva offers a fast, high quality, high frequency service between Liverpool and West Kirby via Birkenhead, Upton and Greasby, operating a 10 minute frequency Monday - Saturday daytimes, 20 minutes frequency during the evenings. Sunday - every 15 minutes during the day and 20 minutes during the evenings.

By BIKE For spectators arriving by cycle, there will be supervised designated cycle parking on the course.

Go to http://www.wirral.gov.uk/my-services/transport-and-streets/walking-and- cycling/cycling for a map of Wirral’s cycle routes.

By TAXI Private hire taxis will use a signed drop off and pick up point in The Kings Gap. These taxis must be booked in advance - you will not be able to stop a private hire taxi in the street. Black cabs (hackney carriages) will be available from The Quadrant, Market Street for pick up near the course. Anyone can go to this stand and pick up a taxi without booking.

By CAR Local people need to be aware that temporary traffic management measures will be in place in residential roads in the immediate area and parking will be heavily restricted near to the course.

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All public parking will be FREE and spectators arriving by car are advised to follow the AA signing from the Motorway network and local roads to designated parking areas a short walking distance from the course.

Areas in and around Hoylake and key routes serving each public parking site will be kept free from parked vehicles in the interest of safety and to ensure the smooth movement of traffic, maintain accessibility for the emergency services and to reduce congestion.

There is a designated car park for disabled drivers.

Rail Access for Disabled Visitors Hoylake station is fully accessible (including toilet facilities) but the station from which you are travelling may not be. You are advised to ring the Mobility Helplines for help and advice:

For journeys starting on the Northern or Wirral Lines call 0800 0277 347 (free phone number) or 0151 702 2071 , 09.00 to 16.00 (textphone available) and 0151 702 2704 at any other time or e-mail: [email protected].

For journeys starting on the City Line call 08081 56 16 06 , textphone 08456 045 608 or e-mail [email protected]

For journeys starting on the national rail network contact 08457 48 49 50 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk

If you need help with your journey please give the operator one hour’s notice on the Northern and Wirral lines and 24 hours notice on the City Line or national rail network.

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Wirral Way as access to the event Visitors to The Ricoh Women’s British Open travelling on foot or by bike are encouraged to use the 12 mile Wirral Way from Hooton to West Kirby to access the course.

Household Waste Collections There are no planned changes to your waste collection services. However, if the need arises to change the date or time of your waste collection service, you will be notified in writing.

Additional information For any information not available in this Briefing, or if you have a specific question please call Streetscene on 0151 606 2004

*A further briefing will be produced in early September which will include any additional information regarding the Championship.

For more information on Wirral Council services please visit our website at www.wirral.gov.uk or access visitor information at www.visitwirral.com

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