Links golf, why so little?

[NWJocko]

On the Euro Tour?

Just watching the golf today and they've just done a piece asking the players about the change from Loch Lomond and the majority seem to be saying they "enjoy" links golf.

Therefore, why is there so little of it on the schedule?

The only ones I can think of are:

- Scottish Open (now)
- The Open
- Dunhill Links
- Irish Open

What stops them having more tournaments on links courses, is it all down to money (i.e. sponsors)?

Would you like to see more links golf on the tour schedule?

Personally I would. There are so many great links courses that aren't on The Open rota but could comfortably stage a regular tour event.

Seems a bit like the grass court season in tennis, a couple of tournaments and that's your lot for the year....

 

[muttleee]

The Dutch Open has been played at Kennemer Golf & Country Club in the past...it's a links course.

 

[Imurg]

They can't get Companies to sponser any more Tournaments in the UK as it is. Apart from the PGA at Wentworth, practically every other UK event is a links isn't it? Therefore we need more Parkland/Heathland Tournaments don't we..?

 

[fundy]

Most links courses are in the UK and the big problem is they dont want to stage any more tournaments in the UK for 2 reasons, 1) sponsorship is hard to get currently and 2) it is a killer for the player tax wise (basically the UK tax them on all income for the percentage of the year spent in the uk, which means a poor finish costs them money basically)

 

[NWJocko]

They can't get Companies to sponser any more Tournaments in the UK as it is. Apart from the PGA at Wentworth, practically every other UK event is a links isn't it? Therefore we need more Parkland/Heathland Tournaments don't we..?

Fair point re UK, suppose it would need more UK tournaments which is where the money/tax issues come in!

At least there's more variety on the euro tour by its nature than the US tour.

 

[thedrewser]

I did read, either last year or the year before, that Turnberry was told by the R&A that if they went ahead with proposals to hold a Euro Tour event annually they would jeopordise their chances of staging The Open in the future as the R&A wanted its Open courses to be special.

 

[coolhand]

Another reason there's not more links golf is the weather can make them a start time lottery.

Castle Stuart was beiong torn apart by GMac and others this morning, -1 looks to be a good score this afternoon.