Success at Merion could pave path for Royal Porthcawl

[Niall Hay]

http://golfweek.com/news/2013/mar/24/tait-success-merion-could-pave-path-royal-porthcaw/

[Thomas Dai]

The Open at Royal Porthcawl? That would be nice.

Does anyone happen to know the evaluation criteria used by the R&A to return an old venue or bring a new venue onto the rota? There must be some kind of points scoring system or something similar used in evaluating a venue or am I being excessively objective?

All the best

[Niall Hay]

That is a great question. Not sure there is an answer on this board...

[Eric Smith]

If it happens I would make every effort to attend.

[Bill_McBride]

If it happens I would make every effort to attend.

That is such a fun course.   The rounds during the Buda were terrific.  Ally McIntosh showed up!

[Mark Chaplin]

Does Royal Porthcawl punch above it's weight because it's the only real championship links in Wales?

Would it have held 6 amateurs, the Walker Cup and Curtis Cup if it were an English or Scottish links?

[Eric Smith]

If it happens I would make every effort to attend.

That is such a fun course.   The rounds during the Buda were terrific.  Ally McIntosh showed up!

You said it, Bill. Just terrific. Let's hope we get back there sooner rather than later!

[Frank Pont]

Could be true, I heard Martin Ebert will be doing work there, often a sign that the R&A has plans for a links course....

[Thomas Dai]

Royal Porthcawl have just installed a new irrigation system and I spotted that a new short game practice area has been built as well. Plus, last year the greens were re-done on the par-5 5th and the par-4 9th. General upgrades prior to forthcoming British Seniors Opens or clues as to other possibilities? Time will tell.

Super course either way and a very friendly and welcoming place as well, although Mark makes a valid point in suggesting that maybe it punches above it's weight a bit more because it's the only real championship links in Wales.

All the best.

[Adam Lawrence]

I don't think there's much doubt the powers that be would _like_ a Porthcawl Open. But there's quite a lot of issues beyond the golf course's ability to test the pros. The crossover of 1 and 18 would be a pain, and in general the area round the clubhouse would be very congested - where would the stands go around 18 for example?

Access is not great, but I think that could be overcome - it's certainly no worse than RSG. I wouldn't rule it out, but it is not straightforward, and there isn't the overwhelming historical reason to go there that Merion had - I don't see the R&A sanctioning a 'reduced' Open just to go to Porthcawl.

[Sean_A]

I think Adam is right.  I have to believe the R&A is looking at any reasonable way to bring the Open to Porthcawl.  The 18th/1st and house are an issue.  Do folks think is possible that Porthcawl might consider moving (even building a new house!) the house to host an Open?  If that was done and a 1st tee by the shore was used, a huge stand could go in where the house is.  I know, its crazy talk, but look what Hoylake did to their course! 

I also agree with Chappers.  Porthcawl punches above its weight because its Welsh.  Still, I think it is good enough to host an Open if infrastructure issues could be overcome.  I wouldn't mind seeing it come to fruition.

Ciao 

[Mark Chaplin]

Six amateurs, Walker Cup, Seniors Open does the club need any more recognition? Look at that pedigree in US terms and it's there with the very best.

[Ally Mcintosh]

I loved Porthcawl and seem to be one of the few that thought it actually was underrated rather than overrated...

Who did that work on the 5th and 9th, Thomas? I was a big fan of the 9th hole and green at the time.
I know they also removed the green extension on 10 at the same time.

Wish I could have stayed longer at that (my only to date) BUDA... Had a wonderful round with Bill, Jason and Philip and then another walk round in the afternoon.

[Adam Lawrence]

The fifth tee and the new twelfth green were done about five years ago by David Williams.

[Ally Mcintosh]

The fifth tee and the new twelfth green were done about five years ago by David Williams.

I like the 12th green by David Williams. He also built the 10th green extension that has now been removed.

It was more the 9th & 5th greens that were done last year. Was that Martin Ebert?

[Paul_Turner]

Ally

Agreed, if anything it's underrated (here anyway).  The course is a scenic walk and has a fine mix of holes.

Any idea how and why the 5th and 9th were changed?  I thought those were excellent greens, particularly the 9th.  

So many architects scrapping for redo work...it's hard to keep up with all these changes!

Haven't seen the new 12th green, but that area and the 17th green were always the dull parts.  I didn't think the 10th green extension was a bad idea either.

[Paul_Turner]

Seems like the greens were basically softened    Sounds familiar, given the title of this thread!

http://www.linksmagazine.com/golf_courses/royal-porthcawl-links-100

[Paul_Turner]

Looking at Bing maps and there's a new 17th green?  On the same new land that was used for the new 12th green,  flat farmland.

[Mark Pearce]

One of the great clubhouses.  If they touch that to bring an Open the they are heathens.  Perhaps, of all the top UK links the very best clubhouse.  Good course, world class "house".

[John Mayhugh]

One of the great clubhouses.  If they touch that to bring an Open the they are heathens.  Perhaps, of all the top UK links the very best clubhouse.  Good course, world class "house".

An Open?  Bulldoze it.


I sure hope they don't do something silly just to get the Open.  How crazy would playing 18 as the first hole be?  I'm not sure what sort of temporary access they could get to the adjacent property.  That nursing home would make an interesting temporary clubhouse!

[David_Tepper]

At the risk of raining on this parade, my guess is Alastair Tait could be engaging in some wishful thinking in his column. The R&A has had 150 years to bring the Open to Wales and to Royal Porthcawl and they have yet to do so. Why start now?

The situation at RP is not at all similar to Merion, which hosted multiple US Opens thru the years, but was dropped from the rotation. RP has never been in the rota. You could make the argument that the situation with Royal Cinque Ports, which has hosted Opens, is much more similar to Merion than Porthcawl.

On the other hand, maybe Mr. Tait knows someone in the R&A who knows way more than we do.    

       

[Niall Hay]

At the risk of raining on this parade, my guess is Alastair Tait could be engaging in some wishful thinking in his column. The R&A has had 150 years to bring the Open to Wales and to Royal Porthcawl and they have yet to do so. Why start now?

The situation at RP is not at all similar to Merion, which hosted multiple US Opens thru the years, but was dropped from the rotation. RP has never been in the rota. You could make the argument that the situation with Royal Cinque Ports, which has hosted Opens, is much more similar to Merion than Porthcawl.

On the other hand, maybe Mr. Tait knows someone in the R&A who knows way more than we do.    

       

Well said David. 

[Eric Smith]

I can name 5 of 86 people in this pic. Anyone for 6?

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