Scottish Open to move?

A rumour is circulating fuelled by an article in The Scotsman by Martin Dempster that The Scottish Open, that soggy affair on the banks of the beautiful Loch Lomond, will be moving to a new destination in 2011.

The £3m event has always posed a stark contrast, by highlighting the ‘target-style’ golf of the damp , immaculately groomed Loch Lomond course, with the FineGolf, fast running, firm condition of The Open courses, the following week in July.

Apparently two courses both only two years old and owned and controlled by American interests, are being considered.

The last time The Scottish Open was held on a FineGolf course was in 1995 at Carnoustie.

FineGolf was impressed by both courses, that have used fine fescue grasses through-out, when invited to play and review them last year.

Both have highly experienced Course Managers,  Chris Haspell at Castle Stuart and  Paul Seago at The Renaissance, and it is to be applauded that Americans have taken the initiative in developing new running courses of a quality that can be considered as a true FineGolf test of the modern professional.

Neither are of the heritage of Scottish links, The Renaissance being the minimalist creation of Tom Doak and Castle Stuart being the wide open creation of Mark Parsinen and Gil Hanse, and may be frowned on by some traditionalists but in FineGolf’s view the professional’s tour organisers should be encouraged to choose one of these courses and continue the  trend back to FineGolf.