[Tony_Muldoon]

An Open every 5 years at TOC, the North West (Hoylake, Birkdale, RL&StA), West Scotland (Turnberry & RT), East Scotland (HCEG & Carnoustie) plus the south east of England (RStG).

Lifted (and edited) from another thread

No one ever seems to turn this on it's head.  

Are any of the above becoming a little insecure about the R&A’s confidence in their ability to host the Open?  

Because of the way the ball has changed in the past decade or for commercial considerations?

Hoylake and Carnoustie seem to have reinforced their places but at whose expense?

[Matthew Rose]

I had thought maybe Turnberry was being dropped, since it hasn't been there since '94, but I've seen that they are hosting it in '09 (next year is Royal Birkdale). '11 and '12 have not been named yet but based on the pattern I would guess Lytham and Muirfield.

I looked this up last night and found a Wiki entry about the rota, from what I can tell they are establishing a 10 year cycle where the site alternates between England and Scotland each year where the St. Andrews 0/5 rule does not apply.

With St. Andrews getting 2 out of every 10 Opens, it actually sets up nicely so that the other eight courses all get an Open every 10 years, assuming they decide to keep Hoylake.

You might see Carnoustie hosting every year that ends in '7', for example.

[Phil McDade]

Lytham may have as little room to expand tees as any of the courses, given that it sits in the middle of a residential area and is a very defined, tight space. But I still think it's a very good test; hard to get rid of an Open venue where Jones won and has a plaque in his honor.

Wasn't there some discussion at some point of adding Deal to the rota?

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Turnberry was out on a limb for a bit.  I presume motorway access, enough space for all the media, spectators etc are of considerable importance.  They've been prepared to tweak courses, so they wouldn't be afraid of tweaking Lytham or Troon provided the club agreed.  It is often suggested that Deal should be on the list, but there isn't really an option to take the tournament to a different part of the UK - nowehere really in the south-west, Wales, nothing in East Anglia - apart from Northern Ireland.  RCD say they wouldn't want it (and access and hotel accommodation are inadequate) and I don't think they were enamoured of Portrush when they held the Seniors' Open there.  I don't think Dornoch could be sufficiently lengthened, Nairn isn't quite in that league.  Some advocate R Aberdeen.  Perranporth here we come!

[Tim Pitner]

The course that ought to be played less--St. Andrew's.  Oh, I know its place every 5 years is secure, but to me, it's one of the least interesting venues as far as the play of the professionals is concerned.  Too many driveable par 4s, not enough holes where the screws are really tightened (like Carnoustie #18, the Postage Stamp or #11 at Troon).  I appreciate the many options given at St. Andrew's, but it really needs severe weather to be much of a test for the pros.  

[George Pazin]

Too many driveable par 4s...

No such thing!

[Wayne_Kozun]

The course that ought to be played less--St. Andrew's.  Oh, I know its place every 5 years is secure, but to me, it's one of the least interesting venues as far as the play of the professionals is concerned.  Too many driveable par 4s, not enough holes where the screws are really tightened (like Carnoustie #18, the Postage Stamp or #11 at Troon).  I appreciate the many options given at St. Andrew's, but it really needs severe weather to be much of a test for the pros.  

But just because there are severe holes doesn't mean that you identify the best golfer.  I have no problem with Padrag winning but we came very close to having a complete unknown, Andres Romero, winning.  And the last time at Carnoustie we had Paul Lawrie win and he has done nothing since.  VdV should have won in 99 and that would also have been a fluke.

The Old Course seems to allow the best to rise to the top with winners in the last 40 years being Tiger x2, Faldo, Seve, Jack x2, and Daly - arguably a fluke but he had already won a major.

[Tim Pitner]

The course that ought to be played less--St. Andrew's.  Oh, I know its place every 5 years is secure, but to me, it's one of the least interesting venues as far as the play of the professionals is concerned.  Too many driveable par 4s, not enough holes where the screws are really tightened (like Carnoustie #18, the Postage Stamp or #11 at Troon).  I appreciate the many options given at St. Andrew's, but it really needs severe weather to be much of a test for the pros.  

But just because there are severe holes doesn't mean that you identify the best golfer.  I have no problem with Padrag winning but we came very close to having a complete unknown, Andres Romero, winning.  And the last time at Carnoustie we had Paul Lawrie win and he has done nothing since.  VdV should have won in 99 and that would also have been a fluke.

The Old Course seems to allow the best to rise to the top with winners in the last 40 years being Tiger x2, Faldo, Seve, Jack x2, and Daly - arguably a fluke but he had already won a major.

Wayne,

I'm not arguing for a 1999 Carnoustie set-up.  What I don't like about the Old Course as an Open venue is that there are few potential disaster holes.  The hay at Muirfield and the gorse, bunkers and OB on some other venues make for an exciting tournament.  With the exception of Daly/Rocca, I can't think of many exciting finishes at the Old Course.  Faldo won easily as did Woods.  

Also, I rather liked seeing the players at Carnoustie hitting long iron approaches.  To me, it's more exciting to see Sergio have to hit a long iron with water short and OB left than to see Tiger get up and down from the Valley of Sin.  I don't want every hole to be as challenging as Carnoustie #18, but a few of those holes sprinkled in are good fun.  

St. Andrews seems especially weather-dependent.  With benign weather, it's almost a pitch and putt for the pros.  When they play the Dunhill Links there in the fall, it's a very different animal and far more interesting.  

Keep in mind I'm making a distinction between courses I like to play (more strategic and less penal) and courses I think make for interesting tests for the pros.  In my view, St. Andrew's isn't penal enough.  

[Tony_Muldoon]

When the Ryder Cup was at Walton Heath in 71 they had an act of parliament which allowed them to close off the area for 4 days prior, in preparation to put up stands and build a tented village.  Now preparation for the open starts years ahead, often involves new greens, fairways and tees and the visable signs are there months before and after.  

If the demands keep growing I wonder how long before an HCEG or RSG, say, no sorry we like our course and we don't need all the hoopla thank you very much?

[Brian_Ewen]

""......a complete unknown, Andres Romero, winning""

You Guys have short memories , Mr Romero challenged and finished 8th in last years Open .

I didnt back him with my hard earned cash this past week , because he was some unknown .

Paul Lawrie has done nothing since winning in 1999 ?.

Wayne , you spend too much time on here , and not enough in the world of golf .

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