Portrush Remains (Sort Of) On R&A Radar Screen

Bob Harig on the question of Portrush's prospects raised during Wednesday's R&A press conference. Peter Dawson:

"Portrush is a terrific golf course, may well be strong enough for an Open, but as well all know, there are other issues of infrastructure, accommodation, roads, what would be the commercial success or otherwise of the championship that need consideration.

"Not ruling it out by any stretch of the imagination, but it would have to meet all those criteria, and I don't think it's something that's going to be in any way imminent, but it's certainly something we'll have a look at again in view of the success of the golfers from that part of the world."

But Harig notes what was left unsaid:

Not discussed were the religious and political issues that still plague the region. Just this week, there were riots in Belfast. McDowell, for one, who is a huge supporter of the golf course where he grew up, has said that he believes the political situation stands in the way of an Open return.

Steve Elling features this rebuttal from Graeme McDowell:

McDowell is a local hero at Portrush, where he has logged plenty of rounds over the years.

"Given the last two British major wins came from Northern Ireland, I think we're in quite a strong position," he said. "First and foremost, we could do with a European Tour event going up there [first] -- the Irish Open would be a great start and then look at British Opens after that.

"It's about a lot of things. I'd be a huge supporter of it, but I'm pretty biased. I love that part of the world. The golf course is excellent, fantastic. That would be a dream, an achievable dream."

As lousy as all of that sounds, Alistair Tait declares Portrush as very much on the R&A's radar screen, though locals don't agree with the reasons the R&A is reluctant to return.

Portrush is an hour from Belfast, and there is a limit to how many spectators the area could accommodate. That’s another R&A fear.

“The timing of The Open coincides with a very busy holiday period in Northern Ireland,” Dawson said. “In that area it is impossible to get accommodation at that time of year.”

Rubbish said Northern Irish politician David McClarty:

“People use the argument that there's not enough accommodation in the area, well that's nonsense,” McClarty said. “Golf fans have proved they are prepared to travel miles to see the Open, and in Northern Ireland you are never more than two hours from anywhere, so there is plenty of accommodation throughout the country.”

As for the infrastructure around the area and whether it could support the Open Championship, McDowell has the perfect answer.

“When you think of some of the Open venues we go to and some of the golf courses we manage to make it happen on and how tight they are, I think an Open would work at Portrush.”

Tait also looks at Open venues of the past and writes off Royal Cinque Ports' chances of a return due to logistical issues (I wrote in Golf World last week that it's high time to return Deal to the rota). Tait may be right, but Royal Cinque Ports is a nice, long way from Belfast!