Thanks, All, for the suggestions and thoughts. Please let me add some interim comments, firstly vis a vis the venues:
Dornoch: This is a paradigm or a strawman, depending on your point of view. It can be done and will be done if the Plenipotentiary Site Selection Committee of BUDA so chooses. The timing would probably be mid-late May to accomodate those to whom 60 degrees is frostbite weather and to maximize our exposure to the flowering gorse. The course will probably play as fast and firm as Kent/East Sussex did this September (which is only average fast and firm for Scotland). The clubhouse will be relatively deserted at this time of year, so we should have relatively free reign of it, as we did at Deal. While we will probably be able to attract a good number of local worthies to the event, we should not count on paying Members Guest fees rather than the rack rate (budget ~£250/$400 for the 3 days of golf). The food will be equal to or better than the fine grub served in SE England.
Pennard: This could be an ideal event, particularly if it was a 3-day venue (i.e. no secondary course). A throwback to BUDA II at Painswick, where almost all of us revelled in total immersion in a unique golfing/club experience. Sean, I hope you will take the towel out of the ring and fight your corner. After all, the BUDA trophy itself is yours, we have missed you in recent events and Wales deserves a shot.
Machirihanish: Nobody has stepped forward so far, so it is falling off the radar screen.
Liphook/East Sussex: The would probably be a great, easy to get to for Americans, venue. Those of us from Scotland might find it hard to justify such an early revisit to Sassenach country, but we could be convinced. Tell us more, Craig.
Benelux: There are some heavy hitters moving behind the scenes for this one, and we await their recommendations. It would even more internationalise BUDA, as well as widen our understanding of recreational mood enhancement chemicals as well as the conversational abilities of women sitting in chairs behind windows on busy main streets in European capitals. Colt Phanatics, make your case!
I await comments. One general one I will add is that I personally am far less interested in maintaining "traditions" of such a young event except for the tradition that each event is unique and should and will stand on its own.
Finally, we should all know that this event was started as and will always continue as "Not an official GCA event" and a not-for-profit activity. What Ran and Ben do in their travel business is irrelevant to BUDA and vice versa, although each will repsect the other, I am sure.
Rich