R and A announces new Local Final Qualifying sites for '18 -> '21

[Jonathan Mallard]

• Notts (Hollinwell)
• Prince's
• The Renaissance Club
• St. Annes Old Links

http://www.theopen.com/News/News/2016/02/New-final-qualifying-venues-announced-for-The-147th-Open-in-2018


It will be interesting to see the scores they shoot.

[Niall C]

Speaking as a member at one of the current Open Qualifier courses, I'll be sorry to see the qualifier go elsewhere as it was definitely a great positive for the club, not only in revenue terms but also the R&A's input into the course. I wish the new Qualifying clubs the bets of luck.


Niall

[Marty Bonnar]

Speaking as a member at one of the current Open Qualifier courses, I'll be sorry to see the qualifier go elsewhere as it was definitely a great positive for the club, not only in revenue terms but also the R&A's input into the course. I wish the new Qualifying clubs the bets of luck.


Niall

Yep,
All the old Fife ones have been unceremoniously dumped too.
Progress...

F

PS Good for Boonie, though!!!

[JJShanley]

I find it sad (although I understand why it has happened) that the IFQ has replaced a LFQ of the 1990s (and earlier) that used such courses as North Berwick and Dunbar (for a Muirfield Open.)  That said, I hear good things about the new East Lothian venue, which will co-host the British Boys this summer.  I'd take a walk around both course if I'd plans to visit Embra that month.  I had fun watching Justin Rose qualify for the Amateur Championship at Muirfield about six weeks before he broke into the popular consciousness.  He lost to a guy called Bloom (I think) in the first round...

EDIT for font size.

[Marty Bonnar]

Aye JJ,
That new East Lothian venue is apparently a design by some new enfant terrible yank. Never catch on...

F.

[James Boon]

Jonathan, thanks for posting this.

As with JJ I miss the old format, but then I was lucky enough to caddy at final qualifying back in 2003, my first experience of Deal! However this new format does give opportunities for clubs all over the country to be involved which is surely a good thing.

Will certainly be interesting to see how things go at The Renaissance Club but am obviously most excited to get this event at my home club Notts GC, especially as Niall says its such a positive experience.

F, good indeed, though I imagine at some point I will be in the rough in years to come cursing it 

Cheers,

James

[Neil White]

Speaking as a member at one of the current Open Qualifier courses, I'll be sorry to see the qualifier go elsewhere as it was definitely a great positive for the club, not only in revenue terms but also the R&A's input into the course. I wish the new Qualifying clubs the bets of luck.


Niall

In what way does / did the R&A input into the courses?

[JJShanley]

Speaking as a member at one of the current Open Qualifier courses, I'll be sorry to see the qualifier go elsewhere as it was definitely a great positive for the club, not only in revenue terms but also the R&A's input into the course. I wish the new Qualifying clubs the bets of luck.


Niall

Advising on locations for on-course G&T dispensers for competitors and optimal Kümmel storage in the clubhouse?


In what way does / did the R&A input into the courses?

[Niall C]

Neil


I'm not part of the hierarchy at the club and never look at the accounts too closely so don't know for sure but I think I'm right in saying that the R&A fund changes to the course that have been agreed with the club. They certainly bring in agronomists to keep tabs and advise of any work that should be done. We've also had a couple of different gca's advise and I think that was through the R&A although could be wrong in that respect.


Work done includes clearing out a lot of gorse, taking down a lot of trees and thinning the abundance of heather that we have. IMHO the course has improved significantly since we became a qualifier course.


Niall