“Ensure” the Open stays in Scotland? Don’t talk nonsense
More than 258,000 fans streamed through the gates at the event in July, where Xander Schauffele ultimately emerged victorious. This was the most fans ever to attend the Open at Troon and the third highest number in the history of the competition. The top spot remains the 150th Open at St. Andrews in 2022 (290,000), followed by the 151st at Royal Liverpool in 2023 (260,000).
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According to SIRC, this year’s event delivered over £303 million in economic benefit to Scotland. The amount of new money flowing into the economy – a measure of spending not diverted from elsewhere – was estimated at just over £87 million, along with a further £216 million in “target marketing benefits” from broadcasting the event Television and digital platforms around the world.
According to SIRC calculations, the ten editions of the Open in Scotland since 2005 have generated a total economic benefit of £1.36 billion, with more than two million fans in attendance during this time, a quarter of a million of whom were lucrative golf tourists overseas.
With all these on offer, the Scottish Government’s average investment of £1m per year over 11 years appears to be a sound investment. But some will no doubt wonder why a government that has been forced to make drastic cuts to housing, education and other essential services has chosen to devote its scarce resources to supporting elite golf events.
Take a step forward: Richard Lochhead, Scottish Government Business Secretary and source of the above poetic quote about the country’s identity intertwined with golf.
“This agreement ensures that some of the world’s most prestigious golf events will take place in Scotland until at least 2034,” he said. “The R&A Championships bring thousands of visitors wherever they are held.”
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Of the nine courses currently on the Open list, four are in Scotland and four in England, with the ninth being Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where next year’s event will take place.
It is completely inconceivable that the St Andrews-based R&A would ever remove the Old Course from this roster. Its special status as the ‘Home of Golf’ has given it the lion’s share of Open competitions in modern times, with the event typically held in St Andrews every five years.
The £11m sum from the Scottish Government does not “ensure” that more than one belter of an opening attack will guarantee a round will finish on a level playing field. To claim otherwise is disingenuous.
Before misinformation arises, it is worth pointing out that technically not all public money comes directly from the Scottish Government budget.
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Part of the £11 million contribution comes from national tourism agency VisitScotland, which has long recognized the significant value of golf to the industry in this country. As a non-departmental public body, VisitScotland received funding of £62.5m from the Scottish Government during the year to March 2023, the latest period for which accounts are available.
It is also important to understand what R&A is and how it works.
The R&A Group of Companies was formed in 2004 to take over the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews’ responsibility for setting the Rules of Golf, hosting The Open and developing the game worldwide. In addition to The Open, the company is also responsible for a number of more than 20 other championship and international matches at the amateur and professional levels, virtually all of which are loss-making and rely to some extent on the redistribution of revenue generated through the sale of the rights in the Connection to The Open.
Latest accounts filed with Companies House show the R&A Group had a turnover of £151.6m in 2023 (up from £150.7m), but operating profit fell from £12.7m in 2023 fell to £2.6 million last year. Reasons cited included increased investment in “implementing golf investment initiatives around the world,” including the opening of new community-based entertainment facility Golf It! in Glasgow.
In this context, the Scottish Government’s contribution could be seen in a different light as part of the wider financial package needed to support the game beyond what is happening to the millionaires at the top of the men’s professional game.
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It is not yet known when The Open will return to Scotland, with venues not being announced for another two years. Royal Portrush will be followed by Royal Birkdale in 2026. The Scottish Government’s contribution will go towards the delivery of The Open AIG Women’s Open and the Senior Open competitions held in the country during the contract period.
“The partnership with the Scottish Government and VisitScotland ensures continued support for the staging of our championships at prestigious venues across the country, strengthening Scotland’s international reputation as the home of golf and providing a world-class stage for hosting major sporting events,” said the outgoing R&A Managing Director said Martin Slumbers.
“Independent research has shown that major championship golf courses deliver significant economic benefits to Scotland by boosting tourism, showcasing the country to a global audience and generating revenue for local communities and businesses. The results of the 152nd Open at Royal Troon confirm this and we look forward to working with our government partners to deliver a series of outstanding major championships in Scotland over the next decade.”
Suggestions that this funding agreement will secure Scotland’s place in the world of championship golf are nonsense, but as Mr Slumbers points out, there are many credible reasons for the government to support the sport.
