Carnoustie Community Council hits out over contentious R&A policy.

Community council hits out over plans to keep golf fans in Carnoustie event

Holding golf fans “hostage” during next year’s Open in Carnoustie will be a “hammer blow” for the town, it has been claimed.

Carnoustie Community Council’s voice has been added to the growing chorus of opposition to the R&A’S controversial no readmissions policy at next summer’s Open championship in the town.

The golf body’s policy of banning ticket holders from reentering the course has led to concerns local businesses will miss out on a potentially valuable boost from the massive influx of visitors.

The community council has now spoken out against the move and called for golf’s governing bodies to ditch the “damaging decision”.

Chairman Arliss Rhind said: “This policy makes a mockery of any boasts the Open will bring major financial and business opportunities to Carnoustie.

“How can businesses in town benefit if the R&A holds thousands of golf fans and visitors hostage within the confines of the championship course all day – with no incentive or opportunity to spend a bit of time in the town itself?

“Only a few weeks ago, I attended an inaugural meeting organised by Angus Council to discuss the Open to examine the opportunities this could bring to Carnoustie.

“I was enthused by the idea that we as a council could lead efforts to brighten up the town, remove eyesores and organise daytime and evening events for the thousands of visitors.

“The people of Carnoustie are ready to welcome visitors in July – but only if we ever see them.

“This ‘no readmissions’ policy has come as a hammer blow, not only for our aspirations, but for all the businesses, restaurants and bars in the town.”

As for the excuse that the policy was taken to protect golf fans from ticket touts and unofficial operators, Mr Rhind dismissed that as a “spurious argument”.

“I have personally attended numerous Open championships and I have never encountered a ticket tout. What would be the point of them being there?” he pointed out.

“As for unofficial operators outside the perimeter – another red herring.

“The R&A appears to want to hold golf fans captive and subject them to what I can only describe as exhorbitant prices for refreshments and food and Open memorabilia.”

Despite the decision, Mr Rhind said

“The R&A appears to want to hold golf fans captive and subject them to what I can only describe as exorbitant prices

people in the town and its community council would do whatever they could within these restrictions to make the Open 2018 a successful and memorable event for the town.

“To that end we will be keeping in touch with the Links Committee and talking to businesses throughout Carnoustie to explore all possibilities,” he added.

“My main hope is that the R&A will think again and rescind this damaging decision.”

A spokesman for the R&A said: “The Open is one of the world’s great sporting events and it will attract tens of thousands of fans to Carnoustie for the championship.

“Television images of the course and the town will be broadcast to hundreds of millions of households around the world, which will encourage many more tourists and golfers to visit the town to play this magnificent course in the years to come.

“The Open will generate tens of millions of pounds of economic benefit for the Carnoustie region, with thousands of fans staying in local hotels and guest houses and visiting bars, restaurants and shops.

“We are working with Angus Council and a range of local bodies to help ensure the area benefits fully from hosting the championship.

“As we have indicated previously, looking after the interests of our fans is of paramount importance to us and we are taking a series of steps to try to prevent anyone being disappointed by being misled into buying substandard, off-site hospitality packages.”

gbrown@thecourier.co.uk