[Chris Clouser]

I ran across a story detailing the movement for Scottish independance and was curious what some of our friends in Scotlad or England have to say about how it would impact golf.  Would the Open Championship suddenly become a championship only contested on Scottish links?  What other potential impacts would it have?

[Mark Pearce]

I would be surprised if it would have any effect on the running of the Open, or any other R&A organised events.

That said, I'd be surprsied if the Scots vote for independence.  Polls suggest that if there was a referendum tomorrow, there would be a big majority against and I would imagine that that would be more likely to grow rather than narrow as the reality of referendum approached.

[Tony_Muldoon]

While I agree with Mark’s assessment if could be fun to speculate, what if....

I would expect the new government to be desperate for CASH and they might well put more money in to marketing Scottish Golf Courses abroad.  I would expect the Kitsch factor to go up at some of the (hotel?) courses. Caddies in Kilts anyone?  This would be aimed at the Scottish Diaspora.

There would be increased support for attempts to build on previously forbidden land, a la Trump and other steps which might encourage golf  tourism to new exciting courses.

If Sterling is abandoned for the Euro, it could hurt the no of English Golfers who visit, even if slightly encouraging more continentals.

Longer term (it gets more contentious) I would see a worsening of unemployment and that could mean more and cheaper caddies (although Kilts are not cheap!).


and....

What have I missed?

[Ross Tuddenham]

For starters I really hope it doesn’t happen.

For amateur golf there is already a Scottish golf union and the R and A would still be the governing body.  I am not sure about a Scottish PGA for professionals or whether you would have to create one?

As Mark points out, there seems no reason for independence to have any effect on the running of the Open.  Unless anyone knows of UK government funding used to help stage the open which could dry up in an independent Scotland.

I am pretty sure that an independent Scotland will use the UK pound, so initially Scotland should not suffer negatively, relative to the rest of the UK, through currency differences.  Although if the euro crisis has taught us anything, being tied to another countries monetary policy if your underlying economics are vastly different does not bode well in the long run.

How are the Greek and Spanish golf industries doing at the moment?

[Jon Wiggett]

It is a pretty dead cert that it won't happen as an independent Scotland would either have to join the Euro, have sterling but no control over it and be outside the EU or have its own currency and be outside the EU. Non of these seem appetising when looked at closely. I do believe that Scotland would be okay financially on its own though were it not for the EU/euro situation.

Jon

[Gary Slatter]

since the majority of the R&A seem to be English, and play in June and September, would they move HG to London?    would it matter?

[Philippe Binette]

could the R & A still keep the 'royal' if they get rid of the queen of england

[John Chilver-Stainer]

I’m sure as part of the great debate that will take place over the next 2 years, golf will become a part of it.

Once the professional media men get their instructions from the Pro Independence campaign, all the special Scottish cultures will be highlighted, and surely golf belongs in there as well.
In 2013 the Open will be in Muirfield, in 2014 the Ryder Cup will be in Gleneagles.
Golf and Scotland will probably in the public eye more than ever before.

What will that mean – even more golfers will be attracted to Scotland by the hype, courses will be filled and yes, surely, green fees will be more expensive.
The 220 million pound industry of golf in Scotland will grow even larger.

It won’t be so good for thrifty golfers, though there will be few enclaves of cheap golf left, but a great argument for Scottish independence.

[Matthew Hunt]

An independent Scotland will definitively keep the pound.  Jon, The idea that they will have join the Euro is a pure myth from the right-wing papers that the Tories are now helping spread. Both of the countries will attomaticially be EU members with the same conditions and privledges

[Mark Pearce]

An independent Scotland will definitively keep the pound.  Jon, The idea that they will have join the Euro is a pure myth from the right-wing papers that the Tories are now helping spread. Both of the countries will attomaticially be EU members with the same conditions and privledges

Keeping another country's currency, with no control over the monetary policy of that country would be very risky.  As, of course, would joining the Euro.  As to "automatic" EU membership, what is your basis for making that statement?  Since an independant Scotland doesn't yet exist, it hasn't yet applied for membership, nor has that application been considered.

[Jon Wiggett]

An independent Scotland will definitively keep the pound.  Jon, The idea that they will have join the Euro is a pure myth from the right-wing papers that the Tories are now helping spread. Both of the countries will attomaticially be EU members with the same conditions and privledges

Matthew,

if Scotland goes independent then it would be required to apply for EU membership should it wish to be a member. That is the plain and simple truth which has already been stated by the EU commission. ALL new members are required to sign up to enter the Euro currency erea as soon as they fulfil the criteria.


What you have stated is just plain wrong.

An independent Scotland will have three choices

either join the EU and take on the Euro or stay outside going down the bilateral contract approach keeping Sterling but having no fiscal control over it or having its own currency.

Philippe,

Betty is Queen of Scotland as well.

Jon

[Gary Slatter]

Doesn't Scotland already have it's own currency? 
Scottish Pounds, used all over Scotland, and sometimes not accepted in England.

[Chris Kane]

Scottish pounds are printed by Scottish banks, but are the same currency as the English pound.
I actually wouldn't mind if they decided to go it alone with the Scottish pound - with any luck they'd be worth much less than English pounds and Scotland's best courses would be more affordable for those of us overseas!

[Duncan Cheslett]

An independent Scotland will definitively keep the pound.  Jon, The idea that they will have join the Euro is a pure myth from the right-wing papers that the Tories are now helping spread. Both of the countries will attomaticially be EU members with the same conditions and privledges

Err... no!

As Jon and Mark have pointed out, should Scotland decide to break away from the UK its membership of the EU would cease and it would have to apply to join in its own right. If accepted, as a new member Scotland would be obliged to adopt the Euro as its currency.

This is not a myth - it is the simple truth.

[Chris Kane]

...but will the Euro even exist in 2014?

[Ross Tuddenham]

There is quite a good article in the guardian about the issue of Scottish membership of the EU.  It seems there is a political standpoint which says Scotland does not get in but also a theoretical legal/academic argument where by Scottish citizens cannot have their EU membership taken away so easily.

It is worth a read.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/13/independent-scotland-eu-member-snp

As the article points out, EU status thankfully introduces more uncertainty on an issue surrounding independence, and therefore makes it harder to see Scottish independence becoming a reality.  It would almost be better for the SNP – even if the outcome is a negative - if it was clear cut either way.

[John Chilver-Stainer]

If the Referendum should provide a yes to Scottish Independance iin 2014 it will still take certain period of time until the Union Contract is dissolved and replaced by a new Agreement between Scotland and the remains of the UK. 

During this time the question of  EU membership can also be resolved.

However a better alternative maybe to join the EEC along with Scotland’s nearest neighbours Iceland and Norway. All the trade and freedom of movement benefits are available without the threats and dangers of the EU, not to mention the benefits of bilateral agreements between Scotland and the UK.

[Bruce Katona]

From a guy from the left side of the pond:

1. What is the driving force for Scottish Independence?  Is this a similar situation to the Province of Quebec wanting to be separate from the remainder of Canada?

Being from the US, I get the Quebec issue in concept as it's a province much different socially & culturally from the other Canadian provinces, as a result of originally being a French Territory.

Help on Scoltland is appreciated.

BK

[Adam Lawrence]

From a guy from the left side of the pond:

1. What is the driving force for Scottish Independence?  Is this a similar situation to the Province of Quebec wanting to be separate from the remainder of Canada?

Being from the US, I get the Quebec issue in concept as it's a province much different socially & culturally from the other Canadian provinces, as a result of originally being a French Territory.

Help on Scoltland is appreciated.

BK

Variety of things. Cultural nationalism, which has been growing slowly for a long time, perception of English domination of the UK (and resentment of right-wing governments in London when there's hardly a Conservative MP in the whole of Scotland).

[Ross Tuddenham]

Maybe this is an over simplification but here are some of the forces behind Scottish independence.

Nationalism – some people feel Scotland deserves to be a nation in its own right and cling onto a rather romantic notion of Scottish history in which Scotland was a successful fully independent nation.

Dislike of English Rule – Something linked to all the reasons concerning independence; some people don’t think the English understand Scotland and its people, so therefore an independent Scotland can do a better job.  The recent banking crises, wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, MP expenses scandal etc are probably examples which supporters of independence will use to back this up.

UK politics – Scotland currently has 1 conservative Member of Parliament (Westminster) so it could be argued the results of the UK general election do not represent the will of the Scottish people.  The same could be said for much of Northern England when the Tories are in power.

UK defence – There are a number of people who support independence as a way to rid Scotland of the nuclear weapons which the UK armed forces store on Scottish land/water.  This really isn’t a big issue - in terms of independence debate - but one which might sway the odd voter who otherwise would have no time for the SNP.  I think the green party also support independence as they feel smaller more agile nation are better placed to tackle climate change and other environmental issues.

Oil – I really hope no one thinks this is a reasonable argument anymore, but supporters of independence think that an Independent Scotland could better exploit the “riches” of North Sea oil. 

Just to be clear, it would be madness to leave the UK.

[Mark Pearce]

Dislike of English Rule – Something linked to all the reasons concerning independence; some people don’t think the English understand Scotland and its people, so therefore an independent Scotland can do a better job.  The recent banking crises, wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, MP expenses scandal etc are probably examples which supporters of independence will use to back this up.

It always amuses me to hear this given the disproportionate number of Scots who have prominent roles in governing England. 

[Ross Tuddenham]

Dislike of English Rule – Something linked to all the reasons concerning independence; some people don’t think the English understand Scotland and its people, so therefore an independent Scotland can do a better job.  The recent banking crises, wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, MP expenses scandal etc are probably examples which supporters of independence will use to back this up.

It always amuses me to hear this given the disproportionate number of Scots who have prominent roles in governing England. 

It is pretty funny. The whole thing seems crazy to me, but I don’t know anyone who supports independence in order to grill them about why they support it.

[John Chilver-Stainer]

One of the overwhelming arguments of the SNP is Tax Independence.

Taxes and the money accrued from taxpayers in Scotland would be redistributed from an independent Scottish government rather than from London.  The redistribution of wealth in the direction of Scotland has always been a bone of contention with the SNP

[Bruce Katona]

Thank you guys. I omitted any reference to N. Irelend in the question.  Why I was growing up it N. Ireland was a very polarizing topic; not being Irish I couldn't or didn't properly understand the differences between the sides.

[Bruce Katona]

Ah. Taxation without equitable representation.....sounds to me like a fight previously fought with The Crown.

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