 Will Ernie Els and co have time to explore Sandwich town centre? |
It has a population of 5,000, a 20mph speed limit through most of its town centre and many of its buildings date from medieval times. Road names include the delightful No Name Street, Holy Ghost Alley and Knightrider Street.
And drugs firm Pfizer has its UK base on the outskirts of the town, occasionally attracting attention in the way one would expect from the maker of Viagra.
But within days the eyes of the world will be on sleepy Sandwich for another reason when it welcomes tens of thousands of spectators for the Open golf championship.
A few clues
The Open last came to the Royal St George's course in 1993, when over the four days a total of 141,000 people watched.
Advance ticket sales are higher this year.
Walking around the town, sandwiched between Dover and Ramsgate, just days before the tournament starts, there are a few clues that a major sporting event is on its way.
Tiger Woods smiles out from the cover of Around Kent, the county council's free magazine, presumably for the first time.
Bus stops feature warnings of changes to services during the tournament and there are yellow AA signs reading "Open Golf" all over town.
And in the tourist information centre Vanessa Stokes is providing a cyclist with directions to the golf course.
She says she has fielded many more inquiries already.
'It was hectic'
"We started getting inquiries for accommodation towards the end of 2001 and by the end of last summer we were getting quite a lot.
"We close in the winter but by the time we re-opened in April it was hectic.
 All signs lead to the golf (almost) |
"Lots of people are phoning to ask for ticket prices and accommodation requests, I expect when people start to get here they'll be coming in as well."
Ray Haines, the chief executive of the local chamber of commerce, is hoping the event will have a big impact on the area.
"There are varying figures about the last Open in Scotland, from �13m to �30m of benefit to the local economy.
"I don't know what the true figure is but either end of the scale would be significant for East Kent and we are very happy about that.
"I think inevitably some of the people who come for the golf will come back because it's a beautiful part of the country and there's a lot to see.
 Tiger Woods may have to vie with bric a brac and scones for attention |
"Most people who come will be golf fanatics and how much interest they will have in looking round I don't know.
"They may be here for a few days so they will have more time and I hope there will be lots of wives of golf fanatics who want to look round the shops and buy souvenirs."
Not everyone in the town is so optimistic, with some locals worrying the park and ride schemes set up to keep the town free of traffic will also mean nobody actually gets to see the town of Sandwich.
But Guy Dor�, licensee of the Market Inn, has reason to remain hopeful.
Nice chaps
"I was working in Sandwich last time it was here and it was busy," he said.
"Nobody will be coming out for a drink during the day, but I hope people who are staying for a few days will be out in the evenings.
"In 1993 I was working at the Bell Hotel and Nick Faldo stayed for one night - I carried his golf clubs.
"Jack Nicklaus was there for the whole week, Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Raymond Floyd, Larry Mize.
"Nice chaps - because they tipped me well."
With prize money of �700,000 going to the winner at least one golfer will be able to tip well this year too.
But businesses in Sandwich will be hoping they get a financial windfall too.
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I think inevitably some of the people who come for the golf will come back because it's a beautiful part of the country and there's a lot to see 
