Dundonald proves Open to new ideas
Vibrant atmosphere will attract thousands
HAD the privilege of visiting Royal Birkdale yesterday for a sneak preview of the challenge that awaits at this year’s Open and the stage is taking shape already.
With three months to go the skeleton of the grandstands flanking either side of the 18th green are already taking shape around that distinctive white art deco clubhouse, contributing to the growing sense of excitement among the locals.
On a course regarded by many as the best on the Open rota they have a fitting stage primed for another memorable Major championship.
Attendances at this venue are traditionally strong, helped largely by its location in a densely populated belt close to England’s major cities and crowds of more than 200,000 are anticipated by R&A organisers.
But how many of them will come from Scotland is less certain – especially when golf fans here will have a fabulous week’s entertainment seven days before.
The Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish at Dundonald this year promises to be completely different.
The world class field are attracted here by the opportunity to play competitive links golf to get their game Claret Jug-ready.
It’s no coincidence that five out of the last six Open champions all played the Scottish event the week before.
But aside from a top-class field already taking shape at Dundonald – including defending Open champion Henrik Stenson, Adam Scott and rising star John Rahm – there are fresh new elements to this year’s event.
The traditional golf fans will have more than enough to lure them to Scotland’s west coast but it’s the largely untapped potential additional fan base that organisers are reaching out to now. I’m hearing whispers of fairground rides and bands playing after close of play to add a vibrant atmosphere to take the event to another level.
Attracting families and a younger market to come down to the coast for the day is at the heart of their bold plans for a completely new-look tented village. The full details will be unveiled soon in RecordSport, who are proud to be media partners supporting the event in the build up and throughout the tournament week.
But what we can be sure of is that the organisers are determined to make the Scottish Open stand out from the crowd.
Expanding golf ’s appeal has of course been one of the top priorities of chief executive Keith Pelley since he took charge in 2015. Next week’s inaugural GolfSixes tournament at the Centurion Club in St Albans is an example of the innovation that Pelley’s regime is imposing.
That will feature a 32 player field consisting of 16 teams of two representing their country in a battle for a £1 million purse.
If it sounds a bit gimmicky then, frankly, it is. But it’s success will be judged in the interest it generates.
Thankfully the Scottish Open’s changes won’t be so dramatic with all the innovation focussed on expanding and improving the visitor experience outside the ropes rather than tinkering with the action on the course.
But it is bold and it is innovative – and absolutely worthy of praise and encouragement.
The crowds obviously won’t come close to the masses expected to flock to Birkdale.
But their good intentions to give golf fans more bang for their buck at Dundonald deserves to be rewarded with bums on seats and a new generation of spectators experiencing their first taste of the game.