R&A And Royal Portrush

[Dodger]

Surprised this has gone under the radar but what's folks take on the R&A wanting two new holes built to replace holes 17 and 18 so they can house the corporate tents should they have the Open back at this masterpiece at long last?

These two holes are probably along with the 1st the weakest so it would improve things in my opinion......

 

[Captainron]

I have no doubt that the course is up to the challenge. Always been an issue if infrastructure. Lack of hotels etc in the local area. Mind you, the USGA took their Open to Merion and restricted numbers and that was an unqualified success as a spectacle.

I hope they get an Open over there.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

If it improves the course then it surely must be positive - how has the club reacted ?

 

[c1973]

Surely they're not going to rip up the course? The history of the place would be ruined......

If the changes genuinely improve the course then I don't see any problem. It looks like they really want to take the Open here anyway.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Who is going to pay for these changes? If the R&A foot the bill then I'm sure the club will be happy to play ball with the carrot of the Open but if they fork out, and then get told it still doesn't meet their requirements to get crowds in and out and sufficient corporate hostility they'd be out of pocket with a revamped course they didn't ask for

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Not seen anything about it but 17&18 are certainly the weakest holes from what I remember so it wouldn't be the worst thing to happen. Darren Clarke is desperate to get The Open there and is sure to have some input. Will be interesting to see if it happens.

 

[Duckster]

Who is going to pay for these changes? If the R&A foot the bill then I'm sure the club will be happy to play ball with the carrot of the Open but if they fork out, and then get told it still doesn't meet their requirements to get crowds in and out and sufficient corporate hostility they'd be out of pocket with a revamped course they didn't ask for

It'll all depends on how much the R&A want it to go to there and how much Portrush want to host it. I can't see the R&A paying outright for changes to get a course on the rota.

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Are they actually only improving them for the corporate tents or is it to improve the finishing holes for the drama finishing?
If they (Portrush/R&A) didn't improve 17 & 18 then i'm certain people would complain why have an Open championship at a track with a couple of poor finishing holes.

That said i think they need to do whatever it takes to get the open there. Hoylake gets changed around for the open so no reason they can't improve Portrush.

 

[palindromicbob]

I hope they changes won't affect the 2nd at the valley. its a great hole