£70m windfall for area expected

local economy: Spin-off benefits for the community are wide-ranging

More than 170,000 spectators are to descend on Carnoustie for the Open Championship, bringing an estimated £70 million-plus economic boost to the area.

The benefits are being experienced across a broad spectrum, from the £100,000 legacy fund that will be used to support local projects, to individual businesses reaping the benefits of increased footfall.

A growing number of staff arriving to set up the tournament infrastructure have already boosted the bottom line of accommodation providers, high street retailers and restaurants, and Carnoustie can also look forward to longer term economic benefits.

In 2016, when the Open Championship was held at Troon, it was estimated that almost half of the spectators came from outwith Scotland.

Of the Scotland-based spectators who lived outside of Ayrshire, 62% indicated they would return for a break within 12 months.

If a similar scenario occurred after the Carnoustie Open, then the town can look forward to a longer term Open windfall than might otherwise be expected – especially as its natural beauty will be broadcast on television in an estimated 193 territories, to more than 600 million households worldwide.

Some of the benefits are unexpected. One local DIY store has extended its opening hours to cater for those getting their homes ready for guests staying during the tournament, or who are renting out their properties to staff, spectators and even golfers themselves.

Away from the golf, a music festival has been organised and is to entertain 4,000 local people, with tickets sold out in just a matter of hours.

Angus food and drinks producers will also take centre stage during the championship, with tasting events being held on-site through to Sunday, and producers have been invited on to the exhibition stand to talk about their locally made products.

Some are even crediting the Open for a housing market that has been described as “extremely buoyant”, with one house sold in the town within just 24 hours of going on the market, although house prices have yet to catch up with St Andrews.

Although the Open itself will deliver the most high-profile economic boost, it seems certain that the town, and Angus, will continue to feel the benefits for some time to come.

There has been plenty of work to do on the course.