Scottish Open Rumour!

[HomerJSimpson]

If it definitely won't be holding another Open then surely it makes sense to utilise this great course in anyway possible. I think it would get a much stronger field than Loch Lomond as it gives the overseas players some proper links practice in a competitive environment. As someone who'll never have to worry about the road in and out it'll make great viewing.

I don't see how it will overshadow the Open itself. That has an aura all of its own and will continue to do so. They hold other events on Open courses (Dunhill Links etc) and it never diminishes the fact that it is primarily an Open venue

 

[Deleted member 3432]

Wasn't the Scottish Open held at Carnoustie before going to Loch Lomond? Correct me if I'm wrong but did it not fail toattract a strong enough field or crowd numbers to satisfy the powers that be.

If its going to keep the same date, the week before the Open then surely a links track is the place to hold it. I also laugh to myself when I see Michelson turn up at the Open trying to play a links game coming straight from a generally soggy week at Loch Lomond. No wonder the guy hasn't a clue on a fast running windy links!

 

[golfcitydweller]

justone` links golf is boring .... sorry but i think u need ur head looked at !! well aybody using stack `n` tilt must be off the heed ..

 

[Deleted member 1418]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but do the R&A actually have a say in where the Scottish Open is played? I thought the European Tour 'administered / ran' the Scottish Open in conjunction with the main sponsor (in this case Barclays) and therefore both had the final say on venue.

So surely any change in venue has to come from them? Let's face it, if Barclays feel Loch Lomond benefits them more from a business perspective than Turnberry, they aren't exactly going to be happy with a change in venue.

Unless of course Barclays sponsorship term has come to an end - together with Loch Lomond's as host venue - and neither are renewing their contracts.

 

[DCB]

But are Barclays going to like to pay money into the RBS coffers

 

[thecraw]

I believe Barclays have reached the end of their sponsorship of the Scottish Open or this is the last year.

Something rings a bell with Ballantines Whisky now being involved but I could be wrong.

Money talks and if Barclays, Ballantines or whoever wants to move the tournament to Outer Mongolia they the European Tour aint gonna pass up on sponsorship money!

 

[viscount17]

Wasn't there some talk of the Scottish Open going to Dundonald?

then there is this . . . http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/golf-...86908-22644453/

 

[bogside84]

Dundonald could certainly hold the Scottish Open it ticks all the boxes. Road & Rail link Prestwick & Glasgow airport within 40 mins. and a fantastic course.If you get the chance and you are in Ayrshire at £30 it is a steal.
As far as Turnberry not getting the Open again the R&A must be crazy in my opinion it is one of the best courses in Britain.

 

[Farneyman]

I think Dundonald would be a great track for the Scottish Open. It would need a decent clubhouse first. The link with Loch Lomaond may help or hinder its chances????

It is certainly a great course and plenty of room for spectators plus its only 5mins away for me!!

 

[Marko77]

Would be good to have it at Turnberry, especially if it's coming off the Open rota.

What would Royal Aberdeen's credentials be like for holding such an event?

 

[stevek1969]

Royal Aberdeen did hold The Seniors Open a few years ago plus The Walker Cup is there next year.

 

[StuartD]

The Scottish sun is reporting today that Loch Lomand will be ditched next year due to the battle for control within the club. The paper says that the open will be held at either Castle Stuart or Renaissance Club next year.

 

[robbest3offthetee]

The Scottish sun is reporting today that Loch Lomand will be ditched next year due to the battle for control within the club. The paper says that the open will be held at either Castle Stuart or Renaissance Club next year.

I dont believe it SUN in scotland...

 

[Dodger]

<u>Renaissance and Castle Stuart eye Scottish Open</u>


They may not be as well known as some of Scotland's more established golf courses but the people behind The Renaissance Club, near Gullane, and Castle Stuart, which sits on the banks of the Moray Firth just along from Inverness, insist their venues are both ready and able to stage next year's Barclays Scottish Open.
Having been open for less than two years, neither of the courses has yet staged a tournament anywhere near as big as the Scottish Open, which looks certain to move away from Loch Lomond for the first time since 1996 due to the ongoing uncertainty about its future ownership.

However, according to Jerry Savardi, managing director of the partnership that runs The Renaissance Club, and Fraser Cromarty, director of golf at Castle Stuart, both venues received favourable reports during recent site visits by European Tour representatives.

They've been tasked with looking at alternate venues should a contract in place to stage next year's event at Loch Lomond have to be ripped up and it was confirmed yesterday both The Renaissance Club and Castle Stuart are "in the mix".
"We had a visit from two European Tour representatives ten days ago. They were the technical guys who look at all the logistics, inside and outside the ropes," said Savardi, the American who put together the US investment group that came up with the money for Tom Doak to build the highly-rated course next door to Muirfield.
"They did a site visit and we discussed the possibility of staging the Scottish Open here. Those discussions, I believe, are now in the hands of Barclays."
Savardi said he had first learned of the European Tour's interest just over a fortnight ago and was delighted to make a special trip across from Florida to meet with the aforementioned officials.
"Since the course opened we have always made it known to the R and A, the European Tour and even the PGA Tour that we would be interested to listen if the right tournament came along and there are only a couple that are bigger (on this side of the Atlantic] than the Scottish Open," he added.
"We are definitely in the mix. I have received positive E-mails from the European Tour since their visit and I would imagine a decision will have to be made soon.

"While the discussions we held were for a multi-year agreement, we were not told what that actually entailed. However, it was definitely to start in 2011."
The Inverness area is untested in terms of an event as big as the Scottish Open, which carries a £3 million prize fund and regularly attracts a whole host of the world's top players. However, Cromarty is hoping that won't deter the European Tour from breaking new ground by choosing Castle Stuart, which was designed by Gil Hanse and Mark Parsinen, who also created Kingsbarns, though his collaborator there was Kyle Phillips.
"We had a visit by the European Tour, regarding the possibility of staging the Barclays Scottish Open," said Cromarty.
"I would like to think we are still in the reckoning."
Asked if he felt Castle Stuart was ready to stage one of the biggest tournaments on the European Tour, Cromarty added: "Without a shadow of doubt."
The Scottish Open was last held on a links course in 1995, at Carnoustie, and it is believed more top players would be attracted if it moved back to a links so they could prepare better for The Open Championship.

 

[Adi2Dassler]

Throw into the mix that Bob Diamond, boss of Barclays Investment Banking is a member down at Renaissance and I reckon is a guarantee it's heading to East Lothian...

 

[viscount17]

where do you put the gallery at CS? As good a course as it is you would need floating stands for 1-3 and 6/7-12

 

[bigslice]

i reckon GM towers knew that castle stuart was in the running. thats why it is placed at number 25 in top 100.

they wont say anything till after it is announced but i bet they know already!!! ps whats tonights lottery numbers

 

[John_Findlay]

Davy, I'm guessing only Barclays know at the moment.

I was up in Nairn recently and the word on the street was that Castle Stuart were on the point of making a "big announcement". Given that we've heard nothing from them it's obviously still up in the air.

Personally, as an ex local, I'd love to see it hosted there. Yes, it may be £92 to play as a Scottish resident but you just can't get onto the Renaissance unless you're in with someone. That is the type of golf elitism which I don't want to see continued from Loch Lomond.

 

[bigslice]

hope it comes to ayrshire

 

[StuartD]

Paper reporting today that Castle Stuart has won the race to host it next year. From 2012 Renaissance will host it permanently. Renaissance will have 3 holes under construction during 2011 which will not be ready for the event