The British Open in Ireland

[Mitch St. Peter]

In 1951, as many of you know, Royal Portrush hosted the first and only British Open outside of England or Scotland.

While the prospects of a return to Ireland may be slim and any return would probably be restricted to Portrush or RCD, if you were the R & A and were forced to pick one site in Ireland, where would you hold the Open Championship?

One vote only.

My vote:

Lahinch   --- I would love hearing the players go nuts about playing "The Dell"

[PThomas]

Lahinch   --- I would love hearing the players go nuts about playing "The Dell"

oh we couldn't have that Mitch...such holes aren't considered "fair" anymore

[Glenn Spencer]

Ballybunion or Waterville

[Tom Huckaby]

One would also think the citizens of Ireland would revolt before something called a "British" Open was held at Lahinch.  Portrush or County Down work, but only due to hundreds of years of "troubles."

BTW, this is about as political as you will ever see me get.

 

[Sean Leary]

Castlerock.  The obvious choice.

[Tom Huckaby]

Castlerock.  The obvious choice.

Have I told you lately how much I admire and respect you and how wise you are in all ways?

 

That even works politically....

[Sean Leary]

Huck,

Just building positive karma towards our impending Chapman crushing of Noser and Simper..

[Tom Huckaby]

Huck,

Just building positive karma towards our impending Chapman crushing of Noser and Simper..

Good man.  And those blokes need a good crushing.  

[ForkaB]

Portmarnock.

I'd say Portsalon, but the thought of the R&A suits trying to find a way and a place to enjoy themselves in the wildest parts of Donegal just boggles the mind......

[Brian Phillips]

For the thousandth time it is not called the British Open...it is called The Open

[Tom Huckaby]

For the thousandth time it is not called the British Open...it is called The Open

Brian - that would have to be especially important in this fantasy about holding it across the sea, no?

 

[ForkaB]

Brian

Huck has you by the goolies.  If you want to call it "The Open," move it out of Britain from time to time, please!

Rich

[Andrew Mitchell]

I appreciate the humour and fantasy involved in this thread but as the R&A are unlikely to hold The Open Championship outside of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that really only leaves Portrush and RCD in the running.

The Irish have their own championship. Why don't they hold that at one of the excellent courses already suggested rather than places such as the K Club

[Tom Huckaby]

Right on, Rich.  Iff they want to call it The Open, of course it should travel... and I mean all over the world where golf is under R&A rules...  If it's only in Britain, then it's like us calling our baseball championship the World Series...  which of course is equally wrong.

Not that I have a huge problem with either...hell in a way I like the arrogance.  

TH

ps to Andrew - that was rather my point as well!  But heck, dare to dream....

[ForkaB]

Andrew

Just as long as you agree to call it the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Open," that's fine by me.

Rich

[Andrew Mitchell]

Rich

That's a good idea "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Open Championship" sounds fine by me.

Hang on though it could be a bit of a mouthful for the media, we'll have to shorten it.  Using the first and last few words how about calling it say The Open Championship  

[ForkaB]

Andrew

You are on the right track, but "The British Open" has fewer syllables and rolls off the tongue more easily.......

Rich

[Paul_Turner]

Play it at Portrush and call it "The UK Open".  It sounds good and tacky.

[Jason Blasberg]

Folks it can't be the British Open unless it's played in the UK.  Thus unless my World geography stinks (which it likely does) that leaves only Northern Ireland as a possibility.

Otherwise it's like saying the US Open should be played in Canada!

[rjsimper]

Huck,

Just building positive karma towards our impending Chapman crushing of Noser and Simper..

Good man.  And those blokes need a good crushing.  

Jeez, look what happens when I don't read a thread started by my own college teammate.

You two just keep talking your trash - I fully expect that you will both be buying many a drink and cigar for Brian and I  each evening in the Bunker Bar.

[Jason Blasberg]

Actually to be more accurate it would be like playing the American Open in Canada!

[Sean Leary]

But Jason, it isn't the British Open, it is the Open Championship, as noted above.

Regardless, it isn't going to happen.

[Brad Tufts]

From what I've seen, I think Waterville would be a good choice.  The pros already like it, and it can be long and tough.  Might have to replace the par 3 with the pond and cattails.  Looks like something from the Ralph Myhre...

Don't worry Tom & Sean, you'll only have to buy Ryan one drink, and he will get all red and go to bed early.....  Yeah, I won't be there to see it, but it doesn't mean I can't heckle...

[Mitch St. Peter]

I apologize for the political and personal controversies i have created....no more fantasies with this group.

and Tufts...of all the people to recommend a Fazio redesign for one of the great championships in golf...

[tonyt]

Folks it can't be the British Open unless it's played in the UK.

Which event do you mean? Such an event if established would, by reason, have to be contested somewhere in Britain. But given as others above have said there is no British Open in golf, then the point is moot.

In addition to RCD and Portrush, I'd love to see Lahinch. Every southern spring, my mother and her partner return from Ireland with another collection of towels, shirts and other gear for me from Lahinch, and they are mesmerised by it. Her favourite course in all the world, Mum's first words when she saw it were "do they actually play golf somewhere in there?"