The best course never to host The Open

[Foxholer]

In England - Hillside
In Scotland - Royal Aberdeen

Heard great things about Royal Dornoch, and only slightly less great things about Nairn but not got that far!

 

[stevek1969]

Muirfield was 7192 yards so no issue with length then.

And agree that part of the beauty of Ballyliffin is that it's so out the way and pretty inaccessible to the masses.

Great golf courses though and superb facilities, with the added bonus of great pints of stout :cheers: :thup:

The Old Links would sort them out, the cue at the bugger van would be mahooosive haha. Thats the thing that make these courses so good there natural ruggedness and and the fact there basically in the middle of nowhere.

 

[smange]

The Old Links would sort them out, the cue at the bugger van would be mahooosive haha. Thats the thing that make these courses so good there natural ruggedness and and the fact there basically in the middle of nowhere.

Not sure I'd wanna be in that queue though Steve

Either of the two courses prepared to Open standard would be a great test of golf for the pros, add in a typical Ballyliffin days weather and it will soon sort the men from the boys

 

[Wildrover]

The New and Jubilee courses at St Andrews, both harder than the Old IMHO. Or what about Macrihanish?

 

[sev112]

Baldly union

Sorry spell checker ... lab inch


Aaaargggggghhhhhhh
Ballybunnion and Lahinch

Yes I know that they are in ROI but it isn't the British Open, it is The Open Championship and it is a European Tour event
So I think they count ...

 

[stevie_r]

Or what about Macrihanish?

Inaccessibility compared to other venues and a lack of infrastructure would preclude it I believe.

 

[Snelly]

The answer is Royal County Down.

Saunton East is also a great shout.

 

[Craigeee]

The machrie. The best course I have ever played!

 

[mikee247]

Probably not long enough but St Endoc is a very good links course.

Your right it isnt ever going to be long enough ( about 1500 short off the backs!) nor will it be able to handle the crowds and circus that turns up during Open week. Rock is a nightmare for traffic in the summer as it is there's no way it can handle it. Its also prob too quirky for the Pro's and the 10th will have them up in arms!!

Apparently Watson plays it on occasion and likes the place so Im told....

I think one of the NI courses must be in for a shout v soon. RCD or that other one the name escapes me.... Lovely tracks and more interesting that some of the others on the regular circuit.....

 

[I Am Titleist]

Royal Portrush is the one you are thinking of...it has held the Open once way back when however.

Don't think we'll ever see the Open back in Northern Ireland, infrastructure around both Royal County Down and Royal Portrush isn't strong enough.

 

[Foxholer]

The title of the thread doesn't include "and why it hasn't".

Access and infrastructure are the main reasons any of them aren't on the Rota.

 

[Riverdale]

Ballyliffin

Great course as Ballyliffin is, I'm don't think it should be included in this thread with it actually being in the Republic.

 

[Qwerty]

Id say Hillside is big enough and bad enough and could cope with what's required.

 

[Birchy]

Ganton. Absolute corker of a course and tough.

 

[Val]

Inaccessibility compared to other venues and a lack of infrastructure would preclude it I believe.

Absolutely but as a course and challenge its got to be up there.

 

[stevie_r]

Absolutely but as a course and challenge its got to be up there.

I haven't had the pleasure Val - yet!

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Dundonald

After a few £3m spending on it.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Ganton. Absolute corker of a course and tough.

Indeed it is but it's not a links course

 

[Paul_Stewart]

Lydd ?

Spot on ChrisD - I think about half the forum thought of Lydd when they saw the title of the thread. You win the prize of a night out with Smiffy for being first to suggest it.

 

[Ethan]

The best course never to hold The Open has to be Royal County Down. It has been a solid top 10 in the world for decades now. it has held the Seniors Open, though, and Palmer and Nicklaus both made the trip.

Infrastructure is probably the main reason. It is a small seaside town called newcastle which has a few hotels but not nearly enough and most people would travel from Belfast, so the traffic would be grim. Palmer stayed at Turnberry and helicoptered in each day.