Thomas Cook’s what’s on abroad: The British Open Championship

Going abroad for a sporting event is as much craic as a group of lads can have together, and no better place than to Muirfiled for this year's British Open Championship

It might not have the best weather in the world, but the best players in golf are going to be on hand to provide a few days of world-class sporting action, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to head over and catch it, if you can. East Lothian, Scotland, might not pop up on your radar for a trip away normally with the boys, but it's only 30 minutes outside of Edinburgh, so there's plenty to do if you choose to stay there instead of East Lothian itself. And it's a pretty decent place to get a game of golf in too, with over 20 courses in the area, including Muirfield, which will host the British Open this year. You could also have a look at Musselburgh links course, which is one of the oldest courses in the world, where golf has been played since 1672. If you want to get a round in there, you can even go for the full-on yesteryear experience and get yourself a set of hickory clubs to see how the game used to be played. If you fancy it, you can take a few days, get a few rounds in, then sit back and relax with a few beers to see how the pros get on, so round up the lads and get them ready for a weekend that will live long in the memory. You can expect to see Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods (who's the 7/1 favourite at the moment in the betting) make an appearance, while there will be a host of other famous golfers from around the world, like Ian Poulter, Bubba Watson and Sergio Garcia. The tournament does throw up the odd surprise, and in recent years there was a truly unforgettable few days of golf as Darren Clarke claimed the Claret Jug for the first time, and dedicated the win to his late wife Heather. The celebrations were something else altogether, we're fairly sure everyone who talked to Darren that day got a pint off him, but it would be great if you could say you'd been there for it. With Edinburgh just down the road, you can pop down and get the best of the shops, pubs and clubs, and if you're more of a foodie, East Lothian and Edinburgh will have more than enough to keep your stomach full for the few days. If you fancy getting a bit more information on The British Open, you can check out their official site here, as well as providing plenty of info on past winners and a guide to the course itself. Packages for the British Open have not yet been released but Thomas Cook Sport can take advance registrations, just send them an e-mail at [email protected] or give them a call on (01) 514 0406.