What about the position of TOC itself on the rota? THe held there every 5-years cash cow, with the 1st tee and 18th green directly under the Secretary of the R&A's office window. I imagine the non-golfing media/public see TOC and R&A as totally joined at the hip. Care needed.
How about these four (sic) -
The Women's Open at Formby, The (Men's) Open at Formby Ladies?
The Women's Open at Royal Aberdeen, The (Men's) Open at Aberdeen Ladies?
The Women's Open at Lundin, The (Men's) Open at Lundin Ladies?
The Women's Open at TOC, The (Men's Open) at The Ladies putting Club,
All the best
Apologies Jim, for the flippancy in response to your serious question.
Some thoughts -
They have apparently looked at Saunton East and ruled it out for logistical reasons. Same plus some course issues with Royal Porthcawl I believe. Of the other traditional 'big beast' links courses plus recent additions, well there's Royal Dornoch, great course, up to it as a test of golf, just not an appropriate location though.
Trump International? Castle Stuart? Don't see it somehow.
Kingsbarns? Ah, that must be in the mind somewhere given it's close location to St Andrews, plus, am I correct in understanding that the R&A put money into its initial development? Are they even co-owners in some way? Maybe incorrect about these latter aspects....I'm sure someone will correct me if my understanding is incorrect.
To replace Royal St Georges, a cash cow given it's nearness to London, they need another SE/Kent course. Could RCP/Deal handle the logistics? Others may be able to say more on this. Princes? Well that's just held the British Amateur. A semi-trial run?
Royal Portrush. There's long been chat but the recent Irish Open did go well.
Royal Aberdeen? Kudos from the recent Walker Cup and the British Seniors went down very well when held there. Scottish Open next year. Trial runs? Course has been recently upgraded. Golf mad city, airport, railway, hotels, mega parking nearby, second course for a big practice area. Murcar/Trump/Cruden Bay etc not far away for final local qualifying. Kind of stacks up. Slight complication of an all male club, but Aberdeen Ladies share the same two courses even though they have a separate 'house. The summer 'haar' along that part of the coast could also be an issue if it decided to roll in - need a windfarm to blow it's fogginess away. Whoooops!
Here's a total oddball from left field. Prestwick? "What!", I can here folk say, "surely you mean Painswick?" But if the USGA can go back to Merian.......? Apologies, couldn't resist being flippant again!
My point about TOC though, which no one has yet picked-up on, was serious. To repeat it "What about the position of TOC itself on the rota? The held there every 5-years cash cow, with the 1st tee and 18th green directly under the Secretary of the R&A's office window. I imagine the non-golfing media/public see TOC and R&A as totally joined at the hip. Care needed."
Smokescreens and glass and mirrors!
All the best.