Could Royal Porthcawl host the British Open?

[CHrisB]

They are playing the British Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl and Pyle & Kenfig in Wales this week, and it seems that Royal Porthcawl is trying to go all out to impress the R&A with the hopes of securing a British Open in some future year.  Royal Liverpool did the same a couple of years ago when it hosted the Am and it is believed that the Open will go there in 2006.  

If Wales gets the Open in addition to the 2010 Ryder Cup, it would become a major player in the international golf scene.  Also, if Wales does get the Open, it might make it more likely for the Open to go back to places like Royal Portrush in N. Ireland.

My question--Is Royal Porthcawl worthy of hosting an Open?  I've heard it described as the best links in Wales but I have not seen or heard much beyond that.  Anyone who has seen or played it care to comment?

[Paul_Turner]

Chris

I think the course is good enough to host The Open.  But it could be too short, I think its max yardage is 6700.   There might be some room to lengthen, but I don't think there's much extra space.  Then again, Lytham is fairly short at 6800-6900.

The biggest problem might be hotel accomodation...  Porthcawl is a small town without big hotels and Cardiff and Swansea are not that closeby (30-40 mins drive).

PS

There was a thread a few days ago on Porthcawl, probably about 3 pages back.
  

[Paul Richards]

Chris:

Yes, it could, if the ball is reined in.  As Paul mentions, it's a
bit short for championship golf as it is played today.

[CHrisB]

Whoops, how did I miss the other Porthcawl thread?  Sounds like a balanced test but is it worthy to test the best in the world?

[Paul Turner]

Chris

Apart from the length issue, I think the course is good enough.  It's as good as Birkdale and Hoylake and maybe better than Troon (which I haven't played).

The course doesn't have many fairway bunkers but it is quite agressively bunkered around the greens, particularly on the par 3s.  The green contours are decent and certainly the match for many of the other Open venues.

I can't think of many holes that are really obvious easy birdie holes.  The short par 4s are all pretty tricky.

Plus it is a very exposed course and so typically one of the windiest too.

[Jeff_Lewis]

I think both Hoylake and Porthcawl are stretches for hosting the Open. Hoylake gets a nod for all that history, but Porthcawl, as good as it is, is not up to rota standard. I would sooner include Saunton.

[Paul Turner]

I haven't played Turnberry, but doesn't it have as many or more "weak" links as Porthcawl?  

I think Hoylake is easily good enough to be back on the rota.  It's one of the few links that plays really fast (unlike Turnberry in '94); it's extremely well bunkered, and the cops add another dimension.  Plus it's certainly long enough 7200(?)

[Dave Q]

Regarding potential Open venues in the South West...

In my opinion, both Saunton and Burnham & Berrow are good enough courses to host an Open (haven't played Porthcawl).  

Speaking with people at both clubs, though, it doesn't seem like either course has a realistic chance because of infrastructure limitations.  Both are in very small towns (hotel / hospitality limitations), and the clubs themselves probably wouldn't be able to handle all of the press / corporate tents etc.  

I guess the increasing scale of the championship (while good for golf) also means that some of the most "worthy" courses may not get a crack at hosting the thing...

[Dan_Robson]

I guess the increasing scale of the championship (while good for golf) also means that some of the most "worthy" courses may not get a crack at hosting the thing...

This is true, but it is also worth noting (in spite of ChrisB's comments) that many such clubs have no desire to host professional events. Examples would be Notts and Hunstanton. Both have programmes of improvements aimed at securing an Amateur Championship or Walker Cup, but from talking to members, neither club wants pro tournaments. The attitude at Porthcawl might well be the same.

[Thomas_Brown]

I love Porthcawl, but I don't think it's Open-worthy.
All of the Open courses have a legitimate 18th hole for professionals to finish.
The short par 4's are wonderful, but they are very limited to set up for the pros.

The par 3's however would be the best set on the Open rota - IMHO.

I would suggest Dornoch before Porthcawl to be added.

Tom

[Paul Richards]

And something would have to be done so that the first
and eighteenth holes don't criss-cross.  But it is an excellent
course, if a bit short!

[Paul_Turner]

Thomas

What's not legitimate about the 18th at Porthcawl?  It's a great finishing hole, 410 into the prevailing wind with a wonderful green, and better than just about any 18th on the Open Rota.

Paul

There is a back tee for the 1st that is beyond the 18th green, so that the tee shot is more against the shore and 1st is more of a dogleg around.  I think you would still have to synchronise the 1st tee driving to miss the 18th green putting, but it's not quite such a blatant cross-over as the normal tees.  

[Paul Richards]

Paul:

You could be right, but, unfortunately, that picture doesn't
show where the 18th green is in relation to the first hole.

It still looks to me like it doesn't quite work with a gallery
and all.

[Thomas_Brown]

Responding to legitimacy of 18:
  I love how fast the course was running the day I played.
  I played 18 3 times and found that teeing off w/ a 3 or 4 iron
  was the best club for me to left w/ a PW or 9 iron in.
  I like 18, but all of the other Open courses have strong finishes.  -I consider St. Andrews to strong despite its length.
  Tiger could probably drive 18 which would make it more interesting, but it's too downhill for that important of a shot to have a good setup.
  Also - I said consider Doroch first, I reconsider RCD to be first consideration despite the politics.

Regarding routing the 1st tee, it seems like your idea of situating it down by putting green on the shore would work quite well.