Is the Canadian Open returning to Hamilton?
2019 would be fourth time
For some time now, there have been rumblings that the 2019 Canadian Open will land at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club which would be the course’s fourth time hosting since 2003. It makes sense. That would be the 100th anniversary of the first time it was held here. Back in 1919, a 17-year-old Bobby Jones showed up and tied for second. That tale has become a terrific chapter in our local sporting lore, and marking the centennial of that week would be fitting.
So is it true? Is it coming back two summers from now? Good question. When the Open came to Hamilton in 2003, 2006 and 2012, it was about this time on the calendar — almost exactly two years ahead of tee-off — that the membership was asked to vote on whether to open their course to the tournament. Today, however, a cone of silence has descended on any public talk of a plebiscite.
Last June, HGCC’s general manager and COO Peter Holt said the club had been having discussions with Golf Canada. When asked about it again the other day, he said he had no comment. Meanwhile, Golf Canada’s chief championship officer says the governing body of golf in this country is looking beyond just a year or two down the road so it isn’t just working on 2019 or even 2020 or 2021.
“We are working with (title sponsor) RBC to get alignment on a long-term venue strategy,” Bill Paul says.
Why should we hope Hamilton is indeed in the mix?
Fans always say they love the place. That’s a good start. Add to that the fact that each time it’s been held here, the result has provided a jolt of positive publicity for the city, too. Big-name players regularly rave about the course.
“I just wish they would keep the Canadian Open right here every year,” Charles Howell III said after one visit.
Put it all together, and this city gets a week of PR that is nothing but pure gold. Great camera shots of the picturesque track are beamed around the world. Beautiful images of a Hamilton few people outside the city limits see. And not a single shot of a smokestack. Of course, we all understand the value of the steel industry around here and we honour that, but it’s a refreshing change from what people from coast to coast usually see when Hamilton is referenced. Just to, y’know, knock down the stereotype a bit.
Remember, the Grey Cup remains an elusive target right now, the Canadian Hockey League allbut-said the Memorial Cup won’t be coming here without big changes to FirstOntario Centre which don’t appear to be forthcoming, and the Vanier Cup hasn’t yet shown itself to be a draw. But this event works.
Oh, and the $25 million it reportedly injects into the local economy doesn’t hurt, either.
Need more? Consider that this would be the perfect moment to host a Canadian Open.
No homegrown player has won the national championship since 1954. That’s well documented. Yet today we have four or five players
who could contend if they’re on their game. Put all the positive pieces of this tournament together with the possibility of a Canadian being in the mix — winning might be too much to ask but, hey, dare to dream — and you get an ideal package.
Of course, even if a vote was to be called at the club, there are no assurances it would pass. It’s received a thumbs-up in previous years but history is no guarantee of future success. Yes, hosting puts some cash in the course’s coffers to cover expenses and some upgrades to facilities, but to get that, members have to sacrifice a fair chunk of an already short golf season so the place can be made ready.
And Golf Canada may prefer something other than a one-off. Or it may have its eye on some other plan.
But we can certainly cross our fingers and hope all the sides can figure out a way. It’s never been anything but a good thing when it’s happened in the past.