by James Clarke BBC News Online, Kent

Psst - I know someone who can find you a room

Think of a top golfer playing in the Open and you probably imagine them holing a long birdie putt, or driving a shot down the fairway.

You may even picture them holding the famous Claret Jug trophy aloft at the end of the competition.

It is unlikely you think of them going home at the end of the day and tucking themselves into bed.

But even top golfers need somewhere to stay when they are in town for a four-day tournament

Enter Jane Forbes, licensed estate agent to the stars.

She works for GW Finn and Sons, an estate agent based in the centre of Sandwich, the Kent town home to this year's Open championship.

The players and corporates expect to have satellite TV, which doesn't exist in too many family homes Estate agent Jane Forbes

Every year tournament organisers from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews appoint two official agents to deal with accommodation.

One deals with hotels and bed and breakfasts - this year, as usual, it is the local tourist board - and the other deals with private accommodation.

Finn and Sons found out in November 2001 they would be the official agent, as they were last time the Open was in Sandwich in 1993, and Mrs Forbes has been working as Open golf accommodation administrator ever since.

'Very very busy'

She says she has found homes for several of the world's top players - though she will not name any names - and a lot of the media covering the tournament.

She said: "We are, and have been very, very busy.

The street corner estate agent which finds homes for the stars

"Accommodation in the area is quite difficult because there is a lack of hotels so a lot is in private family homes.

"That is difficult, because everybody who visits the Open, from the players through to the media, expect to have their own bedrooms with shower facilities, and the players and corporates expect to have satellite TV, which doesn't exist in too many family homes."

She inspects all the homes being let out to make sure they reach acceptable standards.

The shortage of accommodation and the small size of the town, which has a population of just 5,000, does not mean just anything will be used.

The going rate for 10 days Two bedroom flat - �1,800 Family home - �2,000 to �4,000 Manor house - �12,000 to �15,000

Mrs Forbes says she has let about 200 homes or rooms, which have to be available for 10 days - from 11 to 21 July.

Some are spare rooms let out by families who are staying but many are houses or flats the owners vacate while they go on holiday themselves.

'Not silly money'

It is a business which proves a nice little earner for many people with homes in the Sandwich area, despite what Mrs Forbes might say.

She insists: "They do not pay silly money.

"They require accommodation somewhere around the world every week of the year, so they are not going to pay over-the-top prices, but obviously they are going to be premium prices for holiday levels.

"You are looking at a two bedroom flat for �1,800 for the 10 days, a middle-of-the-range family home for �2,000-�4,000 for 10 days, scaling up to the manor houses where you come into �12,000-�15,000, dependent on the number of bedrooms."

Average golf fans are more likely to be staying in local hotels or bed and breakfasts - or just coming for the day.

A week before the start of the tournament, staff at the local chamber of commerce said they thought the nearest available hotel rooms were in Maidstone - about 40 miles away.