Brian,
No, but the Dunhill organisers seem to have done so! Interesting question, since KB is entirely artificial links, whilst RC is entirely natural (at least pretty much so). RC seemed to me to be "almost links". The ground is certainly sandy and it is in close proximity both to the sea and some of the best links land out there but it seemed to me to not quite feel like a links (this is in no way a criticism of RC, I thought it was an excellent golf course as hopefully my comments after playing it made clear).
Since Simon knows the course better than anyone and is a member at one of the great links clubs I'd be really interested in his view on this. I'd also suggest that whether or not RC is true links it plays (and will, as it continues to bed in increasingly so) enough like a links to be a suitable venue for the Scottish Open, if the intention is to encourage top players to play as a preparation for the Open.
I think the European Tour and Barclays would prefer it on a links style course as that would attract a better field. End of. Unfortunately I think we can put to bed any notion of it going to any course under 7000 yards. That leaves a pretty short list of courses not on the Open rota.
We could go down the true links definition thing all day long. I also still refuse to get into a discussion on the whole 'it isnt right that no local people can play debate' I have to do that everyday at work and it bores me. Local people can play at Renaissance if they can afford to. Yes not many can, but not many can spend £150+ to play any of the Open courses. Over 60% of our members are local. End of.
As what we should be talking about is the course, yes Renaissance runs hard and fast. I think at times even Tom would be surprised when he hears which bunkers are well visited at the club. It is very, very fast in mid summer.
I think we can all agree that North Berwick and the TOC are true links. Well, I have made more pitch marks at those courses than at Renaissance. I joke with people that I will give them a free membership if they can make a pitchmark!!
So a course that plays hard and fast and it is difficult to stop the ball on the greens. It shares the same ground as Muirfield and has views of the sea that are much closer than the afforementioned Open course. It has a mixture of bunkers with many rivetted which gather the balls as they run off line on the fairways. Sounds like a links course to me!
While it might not be true links in a purest sense it certianly plays hard and fast and everyone who plays here thoroughly enjoys it. The only people whoever grumble are those that have an axe to grind about private clubs. I would love to play Muirfield everyday- I cant, but life goes on, and it doesnt bother me one little bit.
Lets see if the Masters, US Open or USPGA is taken to Bethpage and Torrey every year shall we?
One final point is that this will not be money driven from the club. I cant see the likes of Kingsbarns etc paying either. This is not the Ryder Cup. My boss is as stubborn over money for marketing as he is over trees as Tom alluded to!
Tossing ideas around I am not sure how well 2013 would work if we did have it hear and then the Open at Muirfield the week after. I agree with Toms notion that people may choose one or the other.