Dunhill Links Championship and Your Phone – A Spectator's Guide

Why the Dunhill Links Championship Means Busy Days for Phone Repair

Every October, the Dunhill Links Championship brings thousands of golf fans, celebrities, and professionals to St Andrews. The Old Course becomes the centre of the sporting world for a week, and the town fills up with visitors.

It also brings a spike in phone repairs at our City Rd shop. Here’s why.

Crowds, Weather, and Golf Don’t Mix Well with Phones

The Dunhill Links is an outdoor event, in Scotland, in October. That combination is challenging for any electronic device.

The Weather Factor

October in St Andrews means unpredictable weather. You could have sunshine, rain, wind, and hail in the same afternoon. Spectators following players around the Old Course are exposed to all of it for hours at a time.

Most phone damage we see during Dunhill week comes from prolonged exposure to moisture rather than a single dramatic incident. Three hours of drizzle while you’re watching play on the 17th Road Hole is enough to push moisture through any gap in your phone’s casing – especially if you have a cracked screen or a worn-out water resistance seal.

The Photo Problem

Everyone wants photos with the course, the celebrities, and the crowds. Phones come out constantly, get jostled in packed viewing areas, and get dropped on paths, grass, and the stone walls around the course.

The most common Dunhill week repair we do is cracked screens from phones dropped while trying to get the perfect photo. A screen repair is usually done within the hour, so if you drop your phone on the first day, you can have it fixed before the final round.

Battery Drain

A full day following the golf means 6-8 hours of heavy phone use – photos, videos, checking leaderboards, messaging friends to find each other in the crowds, and using maps to navigate the course. Cold October temperatures drain batteries faster too.

If your battery already struggles to last a full day in normal use, it won’t make it through a day at the Dunhill. A battery replacement before the tournament week gives you a full day of heavy use without anxiety.

Visiting St Andrews for the Golf?

If you’re travelling to St Andrews for the Dunhill Links, a few tips:

• Bring a waterproof phone pouch – you will need it. Even if the forecast looks clear, October weather changes fast
• Carry a power bank – a full day of photos and videos will drain any phone. A 10,000mAh portable charger fits in a jacket pocket
• Use a lanyard or wrist strap – crowds are tight in viewing areas. A strap prevents drops when you’re bumped
• Keep your phone warm – cold batteries lose charge faster. Keep it in an inside pocket when you’re not using it

Locals: Prepare for the Busy Week

If you live in St Andrews, Dunhill week means the town is busier than usual. More foot traffic, more cars, more people bumping into you on North Street. It’s a great week for the town, but keep an eye on your phone in crowded spaces.

This is also a good time to get any existing phone issues sorted before the chaos. Cracked screen you’ve been ignoring? Get it fixed. Dodgy charging port? Bring it in. Don’t add a busy tournament week on top of an already fragile phone.

We’re Open All Week

During Dunhill week, we’re at 1 City Rd with our normal hours – Monday to Friday 09:30 to 17:30, Saturday 10:00 to 17:00. We’re a two-minute walk from the centre of town, easy to find whether you’re a visitor or a local.

Walk-ins welcome. Most phone repairs completed same-day.

Call 01334 478866 or walk in.