Dawson: We'll Take A Closer Look At Portrush (So Stop Bloody Asking!)

From Philip Reid's story, it sounds like R&A Secretary Peter Dawson is just quieting the building speculation as to prevent an all-out riot over Royal Portrush's prospects for an Open Championship rota return.

“We’ll take a closer look at Portrush,” said Dawson, adding the rider: “What it doesn’t have, I don’t know yet until we’ve had another look at it. But I have agreed to look. The usual mixture of a great course and plenty of infrastructure combined with a prospect of commercial success is what is needed. There’s no doubt about the golf course, the other two are what we have to look at.” He added: “I don’t want to start a hare running on this, other than we are going to take a look.”

Of course a Northern Irishman winning an Open or U.S. Open's should have no impact on future venue selection, as Dawson himself has said. Hopefully they are just looking at it because it's a great course and they have a few venues that are not nearly as good.

Darren Clarke sounded more like Peter Dawson than Peter Dawson when asked about it Monday:

Clarke understandably voiced his support for Portrush to host the Open but admitted there were potential drawbacks. "That is where I would like to see it. From a personal point of view, I would love to see it going to Portrush because it is every bit as good as any Open venue that is on the rota right now.

"But until the R&A have a look at it – the logistics are huge. This week we have had unbelievable crowds – we have had 180,000. Do they think they will get 180,000 through the gates in Portrush? I am sure they would but they have to look at other aspects outside of that to make sure the tournament works.

"The R&A have been doing it for a very long time and they know what is required."

Comments

[Samad]

Like the USGA's Merion quandry. But in reverse. At Merion, the course was the problem, not the market. At Portrush, the course definitely is not the problem. It's perfect in every way. But will enough people go?
I think they will - Belfast, Dublin, Liverpool, and all the Irish golfers in New York and Boston. I wouldn't be surprised if as many people go to Portrush as St Andrews.

[Marky Mark]

The storylines with respect to Northern Ireland golf are so numerous now that I think an Open visit to Portrush would be a guaranteed success - especially with potential TV viewership. I don't know if it should be in the Rota, but a a rare, once in a generation venue, I think it is a can't miss.

R&A reluctance is probably because they are kind of set in their ways and a little too preoccupied with the commercial success of the Open which makes them needlessly nervous.

Royal County Down would probably be just as good a venue (course is slightly better IMHO) in terms of logistics, plus, closer proximity to Dublin would alleviate attendance concerns.

[Psycho]

I don't think the issue is how many people would want to go. It's where they would stay and how they would get there on the day.

[fourputter]

Some reality - RP is a great course, as is RCD; but

1) RP - Until the social problems in NI are resolved, the security problems are such that the R&A will not even contemplate such a move: but when they do (maybe by mid-century), they can take Sandwich off the menu, if it's not gone already.

2) Ireland is not in Great Britain and North Ireland as the Irish proudly point out on a daily basis. If The Open is played there, they may a swell pay it in Italy, or Sweden or Spain.

Neither are going to happen.

Shackelfordians (and Darren) mustn't underestimate the conservatism of the R&A.

[AK47]

Bingo, 4putter. Can you imagine the furore when some crackpot bombs the Open, causing some R&A types to spill their gin & tonics? And these Public School chaps don't see the North of Ireland any more as Britain than the Raj ... wait, there's still a Raj isn't there?

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

@fourputter

"Shackelfordians (and Darren) mustn't underestimate the conservatism of the R&A. "

Garbage!

The R&A have been globally growing the game for the past fifty years ... hardly the actions of a conservative organisation. The simple truth is that until security issues are finally put to rest, which they have not as yet been, it would be foolhardy for the R&A to take this event to Northern Ireland. What we're getting from (the ever so pompous) Peter Dawson is nothing more than a politically correct soundbite.

[opgolfer]

carnaptious andcamsteerie,

I disagree. Dawson is one of the least politically correct spokespersons.

Here's a recent quote regarding Royal St. Georges...

"The fact that it’s male members-only is not something I’m overly concerned about," Dawson told The Telegraph on Tuesday. "I know that’s not as correct as it might be, but I do think that these things are a matter for the members."

The man doesn't really care.

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

@ opgolfer ... you're confusing representative opinion on one matter with personal opinion on another.

They don't come much more pompous (or sexist) than Peter Dawson. He is without question the worst representative public face the R&A have ever engaged. He would be far more suited to the Secretary's position at Muirfield.

[omatv]

I can't understand how Hoylake got a 2nd Open ('14 I think). It's a goat track, and while it's close to downtown Liverpool, both Birkdale and Lytham are within easy driving distance. How long would it take to upgrade the rail line between Belfast and Portrush?

[fourputter]

carnaptious and camsteerie

I can't see how I can be writing garbage when you agree with every word I wrote!