Scottish Open?

[Tom Yost]

Apologies in advance if I've missed previous discussions of this topic.

While getting ready for work this morning, I flipped on the Golf Channel to watch a little of the Scottish Open coverage.  What the heck?  I see an immaculately groomed, tree-lined parkland style golf course that looks as if it could be a PGA Tour venue in in the midwestern USA.

Do they play the Scottish Open in Scotland?  

I'm sure Loch Lomond is a great course, but perhaps not what one might expect to see for the Scottish Open.


Tom

[David_Tepper]

Tom -

The Scottish Open has been played at Loch Lomond for at least 5 years now. It was played at Gleneagles for a good number of years  prior, so playing the Scottish Open on an inland course is nothing new.

In fact, if you look at the European PGA Tour schedule, you will see that, aside from the British Open, there is virtually no links or seaside golf played on the Euro Tour in Britain or Ireland.

As in the US, the quality of the golf course is just one of several considerations in selecting a tournament venue. The commercial considerations (sponsorship, room for tents & grandstands, parking, nearby hotel rooms, etc.) typically outweight all others.

By the way, Loch Lomond is VERY highly regarded in Britain.

DT  

[Mark_Rowlinson]

The Dutch Open is usually played on a links - Noordwijk, Kennemer or The Hague.  It also ventures onto a decent heathland course such as Hilversum.

The Belgian Open was occasionally played at Royal Zoute which is as much of a links as Royal Lytham in that it is some way from the sea.

Wentworth is plausibly heathland, if rather wooded, but all our other tour event venues are parkland and often in imitation of American style - The Oxfordshire, for instance.  Even when they do go to Gleneagles it is to play the Nicklaus course.  Where else have they been in recent years?  Celtic Manor, The Grove, Forest of Arden, Woburn Marquess (probably the pick of the bunch), Slaley Hall, The Belfry, Druids Glen, The K-Club, Mount Juliet, Fota Island.  There was a moment's lapse in the Tour's defences when they took the Irish Open to Ballybunion, but the press seemed to ignore the event totally.  What a shame!

[Mark Bourgeois]

I can't remember where, but a couple of years I ago I read an article where the author compared the current euro tour courses against those of 20-30 years ago.

What a horrible state of affair$.

Mark R, the Irish PGA this week is at The European Club.  Harrington's playing there; the purse is something like 70,000 euro.

Does that count?

[David_Tepper]

Mark -

I do think the Scottish Open was played on the Kings Course at Gleneagles for a number of years before moving over to the Nicklaus Course.

I also think the Irish Open was played one year at County Louth (Baltray) about 5-7 years ago, as well as making one appearance at Ballybunion.

If I am not mistaken, I think the Nicklaus Course will have a major face-lift before hosting the Ryder Cup (2012? 2014?).

DT

 

[Brian_Ewen]

"In fact, if you look at the European PGA Tour schedule, you will see that, aside from the British Open, there is virtually no links or seaside golf played on the Euro Tour in Britain or Ireland."

Such a shame that this happens in the 'lower divisions' also .

The success of Murcar last year on the Challenge Tour , has given way to McDonald Hotels money this year , and to Cardrona .

[Evan_Smith]

I also think the Irish Open was played one year at County Louth (Baltray) about 5-7 years ago, as well as making one appearance at Ballybunion.
 

The Irish Open was at Baltray in 2004 and I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure it was held at Portmarnock for many years.  It's too bad money has got in the way of golf.  I would much rather watch the pros battle a links course where they have to use imagination and not just brute strength to beat the field.  I wish having to get as many people as possible onto the grounds and finding space for corporate tents wasn't so important.  Wouldn't it be great if they played courses that were awesome tests of golf and most people would have to watch it on TV.  Imagine the Scottish Open at Dornoch.  Any smart person would watch that tournament.  Or the Welsh Open at Pennard.  I would love to see these guys play great courses for once.

[Mark Chaplin]

On the European Tour events go to the venue paying the most to hold the event, would Muirfield or anyone of the Royal venues pay to a tour event? Of course not that's why we get ordinary hotel & golf complexes.......is the US any different??

[Wayne_Kozun]

I don't know how much of a need there is for grandstands at Euro Tour events outside of the UK as it looks like there is pretty much only friends and family attending.  

[Jack_Marr]

The Irish Open used to be played a lot on links courses, but not as much recently. However, I suppose in the last 10 yrs or so, it has been played at Ballybunion, Baltray and Portmarnock - all links courses.

Other courses that have featured are Adare Manor, Foto Island, Carton House and, I think, Killarney.

[Steve Kline]

I thought PGA Tour courses in the U.S. got paid to host events not pay to have them like they do in Europe. I know that's the case for majors.

[G Jones]

Back in the good old days (1995 i think) the scottish open was held at Carnoustie. A young amateur called Tiger Woods was playing there, and stayed in a small house in the town that a local family had let for the week.
I still have the program somewhere...

[Brian_Ewen]

Mr Jones
I remember those days .

It was when you could turn up on a practise day when the course was open , and see Tiger play .

Suppose no chance of that this coming week ?