British Open Courses

[Undr Par]

watching the European Tour today and the course in which they are playing, (Wentworth Club in Surrey, England) why does it seem like the British Open is never played there or on courses like this, it seems to always be on Links courses...where Wentworth seems to favor that of a North American course, if you didn't know any better you'd think they playing somewhere on US soil.......

[VOX]

When there are so many great links courses available, why would they ever play on a parkland? I have nothing against parkland courses but links are by far my favorite and the way golf was meant to be played.

[Tiger Spuds]

The Open is just traditionally a links tournament at this point I suppose.It offers something different to the other Majors in that regard, and holds it's own unique challenges.Definitely a good thing IMO.A bit off the point but the senior Open was moved to a Parkland course for the first time (I think) last year, at Sunningdale.Maybe the main tour will follow suite at some point, but I really hope not to be honest.

[apex53]

Personally I can't ever see The Open being played on anything but a links course... The golf purists would scream blasphemy if the R&A; ever moved the championship away from the links rota... As far as I'm concerned The Open IS links golf

[Undr Par]

  VOX said:

When there are so many great links courses available, why would they ever play on a parkland? I have nothing against parkland courses but links are by far my favorite and the way golf was meant to be played.

I agree, I wasn't saying I favored 1 over the other (not that I've ever played on a Links course though to know the difference) but my question was 1 of wondering why over an opinion of the 2 types...and as Tiger Spuds stated, I think it's nice that the Open offers something different to the other Majors in that it's always played on a Links course...

[BallStriker]

  VOX said:

but links are......the way golf was meant to be played.

Says who?

[Stretch]

  BallStriker said:

Says who?

The R&A;, and since they're the ones who choose where the Open is held, their opinion is the only one that counts in this particular case.

[BallStriker]

  Stretch said:

The R&A;, and since they're the ones who choose where the Open is held, their opinion is the only one that counts in this particular case.

Yes, in the context of this thread, I agree 100%.........just felt that this came across as a more general statement.

[shortstop20]

Links is where it's at, leave it be.

[Acropo]

It's part of the rules for The Open that it will be played on a seaside course. Has been for a long time, if my memory serves.

[Woters]

The event takes place every year on one of nine historic links courses in Scotland or England (the event has been held once in Northern Ireland, but Royal Portrush is no longer on the rotation, tho may return).

The common factor in the venues for The Open is that they have always been links courses. In more recent times the rotation has generally followed the pattern of being played in Scotland and England alternately. Although there are hundreds of suitable courses inland to hold the most famous Major, history & tradition will never allow this to happen.

[HoosierGolfer]

  VOX said:

When there are so many great links courses available, why would they ever play on a parkland? I have nothing against parkland courses but links are by far my favorite and the way golf was meant to be played.

I agree. Links all the way. I'm very lucky to have a links course as my home course here in the states and I love the place. Traditional golf for sure.