Are we being overlooked

[Foxholer]

Which is where the issue of appearance money raises it's ugly head, abhorrent in my opinion.

Only justification I could properly accept - on a regular basis - is to compensate for any tax issue that might result.

I remember a one-off involving TW back home (2002) though. Cost the underwriters a bit and ticket prices were more, but profile of Golf certainly raised. I con't think that would happen there days!

 

[MashieNiblick]

I think it is more a question of trying to have a European Tour, fitting in a number of national opens and traditional European events (e.g. BMW Masters and European Masters) as well as expanding its horizons, trying to reach a wider audience and get a foothold in new markets (e.g China, Middle East and Eastern Europe). Playing in the far East and South Africa in the winter months also extends the season. You also have to factor in 3 majors in the states and WGC events against which the Tour can only schedule minor events which won't attract big sponship as the main players won't be playing.

Unless there are gaps in the schedule, and I'm not sure there are, to add or move a tournament to England someone else would have to lose one. Looking at the schedule during what would be the English golf season (May - August) I guess you could swap out one of the events in Bulgaria, Portugal, Sweden or Austria in May and June or the Russian Open in July but it's possible that those events have got good sponsorship deals attached. Also in most cases that would mean no event in those countries at all.

It would be nice to have the British Masters back and maybe an English Open but I think it is more to do with the wider strategy and ambitions of the Tour rather than players wanting to avoid paying too much tax.

If GM gets a chance to interview any of the Tour Big-Wigs maybe the question could be asked, or maybe it has been. Would be interesting to hear their response.

 

[DCB]

It's quite simple really, there is a lack of sponsorship, without which the event cannot go ahead.

Find a sponsor, find a quality venue and I'm sure you'd get more events on the calander. Remember the old World Matchplay, used to be played on Oct at Wentworth (?) Well it left our shores for sponsorship reasons (and the weather) Wait and see what happens to the Johnny Walker, this may be the last year, next year it's not scheduled as the course is being readied for the Ryder Cup, will Gleneagles and Diagio put all that money into it after the RC has been nheld ? I wonder. The Scottish Open was funded byt the Scottish Government a couple of years back after the maiin sponsor cuied off. It has a headine sponsor now, but how long will it last. next years move is a good one, but it needs footfall to make it high profile. The Dunhill is a strange beast, seems to be a winning formula, but it's not real golf... almost an end of term party type thing.

The only sure thing on these shores is The Open. That'll keep doing the rounds of the rota of courses and we'll just have to be happy with that

 

[MegaSteve]

Can't believe it would have anything to do with concerns regarding lack of spectators... Been to a few senior events in recent years and there are far more spectators in attendance than you would expect... Was it not record 'crowds' at Wentworth this year??

 

[fundy]

Seems a good thread to ask this question:

Does anyone go to watch alternative pro events in England? e.g the Challenge tour?

Would quite like to go to an event of some sort, but the next one I know of is wentworth next year

I try and take in a few days of the EuroPro tour when its in the area (Collingtree/Frilford/Oxfordshire), only 1 left this year is Oxfordshire at the end of August and will try and get there for a day or 2

 

[fundy]

So we are talking about the players taxation.

I can understand top players being affected, but surely most European players would rather play for a bigger pot even if they have to pay more tax on their winnings ? Can't believe European players make much money after expenses playing a lot of the smaller European events, unless they come in the top few. If you finish in the top 20 at the PGA, even after tax you make a decent amount.

Better to pay a higher rate of tax on a decent sum, rather than lower rate tax on peanuts ?

Sportsmen like Bolt are fairly mercenary, where as golfers are not just looking to make money, but also to get world ranking points, qualify for the race to Dubai gain entry to bigger comps etc.

It becomes chicken and egg, the top players dont want to come as they get taxed heavily so for the event to proceed it is reliant on the sponsor keeping the top players happy with appearance fees or having a lower quality field, thus you end up with sponsors short on the ground for events based in the uk (when they get sponsor an event on the continent cheaper)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Lack of sponsorship, penal taxation and an apparent reluctance on behalf of the tour to schedule or promote any future events in the UK.

 

[MashieNiblick]

This "penal" taxation wouldn't by any chance simply be them paying the same tax as us would it?

 

[Foxholer]

Remember the old World Matchplay, used to be played on Oct at Wentworth (?) Well it left our shores for sponsorship reasons (and the weather)

While sponsorship was certainly a factor, 'leaving our shores' was as much down to other factors as far as my memory of the times!

I'd venture to suggest some of your other points are speculation/opinion rather than facts too.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

This "penal" taxation wouldn't by any chance simply be them paying the same tax as us would it?

Yep, but less than they pay if they played in another country