North courses to miss out on big event

The Renaissance Club could be announced as the host venue for the next two Scottish Opens this week.

Golf magazine Bunkered claimed the North Berwick course has agreed a two-year deal to host the European Tour Rolex Series event.

If confirmed, it would be a blow to golf fans in the north who had hoped to see the tournament return to the area next year.

Castle Stuart in Inverness has hosted the Scottish Open four times since 2011, most recently in 2016, while Royal Aberdeen was the venue when Justin Rose triumphed in 2014.

Trump International Links on the outskirts of Aberdeen has long been touted as a possible

“It would be a blow to golf followers in the north”

host venue, while Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen Standard Investments, said Cruden Bay was under consideration during a media briefing at last year’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links.

Renaissance hosted last year’s Scottish Senior Open and will be a final qualifying venue for next month’s Open at Carnoustie.

The Tom Doak-designed course opened in April 2008. l The Scottish Golf R&A nine-hole championship takes place at Milnathort today, with 270 players competing for a chance to tee up at Carnoustie ahead of the Open.

Milnathort Golf Club will play host to club golfers from all over Scotland in the finals of a championship which runs across two days.

They’ll be vying for the top two spots on each of the final days to win the opportunity to play at Carnoustie in the ninehole championship days before the Open.