I can assure you councils virtually knock the door down at St Andrews not the other way round, the Open is worth a considerable on going income to the local economies.
Mark, I was thinking of the cost of any infrastructure upgrades etc but having just read the Dover District Council report again:
“The economic impact study suggests that the 2003 Open Championship at Royal St
Georges resulted in an additional spending within the local economy of East Kent of about
£17.6 million. Thousands of temporary jobs were created directly to set-up, service and take
down the event. These direct jobs equated to 176 full-time equivalents, of which some 112
FTE were sourced from the East Kent economy."
I suppose most councils wouldn't mind an addiional £17.6 million being spent in their region!
And my Cruise Ships suggestion was a little tongue in cheek, but hey I'm sure many great ideas have started that way
I'd love to see an Open at say Dornoch or Deal, I'm just not sure the R&A want to do it at the moment, otherwise I'm sure they would make it happen?
Cheers,
James