WOW RCGA makes a bold move!

[Andru]

http://www.scoregolf.com/blog/bob-weeks/

[Big Shooter]

"In an announcement expected in the next few weeks, a source said that the RCGA has made a stunning move, aligning the RBC Canadian Open with the European Tour. The Open will join the Euro circuit starting in 2010 when it will be played in August, the week before the PGA Championship." -Bob Weeks


...hmmm, Good News: mid-August, before a Major, not after one
Bad News: if it's the week before The PGA, who would be allowed to play other than Euro players, not that that's all bad!?:cool:

[Pingnut]

I wonder if this was an April Fool's joke?

I certainly love the idea.

[Andru]

LOL the date gives it away. I don't think the RCGA has the onions to pull that stunt. That being said. 3 more soft fields and I'm not sure they have a choice. Though I wouldn't go head to head with WGC event.

FTR - I was fooled the first time I read it.

[Merlot]

I wonder if this was an April Fool's joke?

I certainly love the idea.

Sounds like a great idea!

[Kace]

http://www.ontgolf.ca/g4g/2008/04/01/score-reports-canopen-to-euro-tour-rcga-says-a-definitive-no/

[geekboy]

LOL the date gives it away. I don't think the RCGA has the onions to pull that stunt. That being said. 3 more soft fields and I'm not sure they have a choice. Though I wouldn't go head to head with WGC event. .

A good joke for sure - but also something that would be worth doing if the RCGA had any stones. Which they don't .

Honestly, this would be about the best thing they could do at this point. Just get a better date.

[Pingnut]

I'd love it if the Canadian Open were part of the Euro Tour..

The PGA tour show us no respect and have turned our National championship into a Third tier event.. Maybe the positive reponses to this idea will cause the RCGA to consider it..

[Merlot]

"In an announcement expected in the next few weeks, a source said that the RCGA has made a stunning move, aligning the RBC Canadian Open with the European Tour. The Open will join the Euro circuit starting in 2010 when it will be played in August, the week before the PGA Championship." -Bob Weeks


...hmmm, Good News: mid-August, before a Major, not after one
Bad News: if it's the week before The PGA, who would be allowed to play other than Euro players, not that that's all bad!?:cool:


Always thought Bob Weeks was a little to square for a prank like this.:rofl:

[Big Shooter]

Always hough Bob Weeks was a little to square for a prank like this.:rofl:

I'm trying to find out, Little Shooter lives in the same building as him (Kipling & Dundas area);)

[Andru]

I'd love it if the Canadian Open were part of the Euro Tour..

The PGA tour show us no respect and have turned our National championship into a Third tier event.. Maybe the positive reponses to this idea will cause the RCGA to consider it..

Ok This is where you are wrong. The PGA tour didn't turn the Open into a 3rd tier event Canadians did!!!

The overall attitude towards the candian open is indifference. Yes there are some hugs fans like the good folks on this board. But most are indifferent.

The PGA tour made a business decision and a smart one. If you want the canadian open to have more status. We have to all do our part by making it important to us. When it's important to us. RBC will kick in another million to make the prize money more interesting, Better players will attend the event and more golf courses will want to host.

Do you think Hamilton GCC would say no to a PGA championship if it had the chance? Anyway.

Stop blaming everyone else.

Cheers

[sennawcf1]

Ok This is where you are wrong. The PGA tour didn't turn the Open into a 3rd tier event Canadians did!!!

The overall attitude towards the candian open is indifference. Yes there are some hugs fans like the good folks on this board. But most are indifferent.

The PGA tour made a business decision and a smart one. If you want the canadian open to have more status. We have to all do our part by making it important to us. When it's important to us. RBC will kick in another million to make the prize money more interesting, Better players will attend the event and more golf courses will want to host.

Do you think Hamilton GCC would say no to a PGA championship if it had the chance? Anyway.

Stop blaming everyone else.

Cheers

Absolutely TRUE !!!
We have nobody to blame but ourselves and the lack of corporate support.

[Merlot]

Absolutely TRUE !!!
We have nobody to blame but ourselves and the lack of corporate support.

Whats strange is that supposedly Canada has the most golf course per capita and the most golfers per capita in th e world by leaps and bounds. Clearly not true adn if so not the supporting kind.

[Golden Bear]

Is it true that we're not supporting it, though?

Others are better positioned to comment than I am -- my understanding may be based on urban myths -- but here's the situation as I understand it:

- The Canadian Open is always well-attended.

- the TV ratings for golf are excellent in Canada.

- the problem hasn't been domestic corporate support so much as international corporate support -- the RCGA has sought an international sponsor in order to make the Canadian Open more appealing to international broadcasters, but particularly the PGA, which has lost interest in the Canadian Open because the sponsorship has been domestic.

- the current problems with the Canadian Open were not a problem in the 70s and early 80s, when it was still considered the "fifth major" ... and was played, for many of those years, at Glen Abbey.

Again, these are my understandings only and may be fraught with inaccuracies.

[rgk5]

Ok This is where you are wrong. The PGA tour didn't turn the Open into a 3rd tier event Canadians did!!!

The overall attitude towards the candian open is indifference. Yes there are some hugs fans like the good folks on this board. But most are indifferent.

The PGA tour made a business decision and a smart one. If you want the canadian open to have more status. We have to all do our part by making it important to us. When it's important to us. RBC will kick in another million to make the prize money more interesting, Better players will attend the event and more golf courses will want to host.

Do you think Hamilton GCC would say no to a PGA championship if it had the chance? Anyway.

Stop blaming everyone else.

Cheers

I have several friends who are long term members at Hamilton and the general membership is in no hurry to get the Open again. Try after 2012 at the earliest.

[Merlot]

Is it true that we're not supporting it, though?

Others are better positioned to comment than I am -- my understanding may be based on urban myths -- but here's the situation as I understand it:

- The Canadian Open is always well-attended.

- the TV ratings for golf are excellent in Canada.

- the problem hasn't been domestic corporate support so much as international corporate support -- the RCGA has sought an international sponsor in order to make the Canadian Open more appealing to international broadcasters, but particularly the PGA, which has lost interest in the Canadian Open because the sponsorship has been domestic.

- the current problems with the Canadian Open were not a problem in the 70s and early 80s, when it was still considered the "fifth major" ... and was played, for many of those years, at Glen Abbey.

Again, these are my understandings only and may be fraught with inaccuracies.

I really don't know myself. As someone who loves golf, have to admit I don't pay much attention to the Canadian Open or not as much as one might think. I have been only a couple times but i don't like crowds.

I think you made some good points adn makes sense to me.

[Andru]

I have several friends who are long term members at Hamilton and the general membership is in no hurry to get the Open again. Try after 2012 at the earliest.
I agree it's not up to Hamilton's members to save the Open.

Is it true that we're not supporting it, though?

Others are better positioned to comment than I am -- my understanding may be based on urban myths -- but here's the situation as I understand it:

- The Canadian Open is always well-attended.

- the TV ratings for golf are excellent in Canada.

- the problem hasn't been domestic corporate support so much as international corporate support -- the RCGA has sought an international sponsor in order to make the Canadian Open more appealing to international broadcasters, but particularly the PGA, which has lost interest in the Canadian Open because the sponsorship has been domestic.

- the current problems with the Canadian Open were not a problem in the 70s and early 80s, when it was still considered the "fifth major" ... and was played, for many of those years, at Glen Abbey.

Again, these are my understandings only and may be fraught with inaccuracies.
I'm no expert either. I just believe the solution starts with the fans. I play golf with about 10 people on a regular basis. Only 2 others loyally attend the can open every year when it's in close proximity. That's 7 other golfers who do not. It's those we need to get out.

I see your point about attendence, but well attended in my opinion is sold out. I've been to many Canadian Opens and I can always buy tickets the day of.

[Cybergolfer]

The biggest problem as I see it was the time slot plus the fact that it was played at Glen Abby a course most PGA players hate. The RGA needed to build a tradition course that was a shot makers course. One that challenged the pros but was fair.(not US Open). But lets face it the PGA could care less about the Canadian Open. It's not American they could have no problem filling in the time slot. Do you also think the PGA players give a hoot about playing here. Let's face Americans couldn't give a rat's a#s about us.

[Golfgeek]

I'm always amused with this train of thought re the Canadian Open. It all depends on your definition of success.

If strength of field is your definition, then it sucks and will continue to suck in its current slot no matter what is done re tours, purses, or sponsors. Oh and by the way, would you rather see Scott Gump from the PGA Tour or Ross Fisher from the European Tour...how about neither!!

If financial success is what you're talking about, then sponsorships are the determining factor in the short term. However, if viewership eventually goes down, then eventually the sponsors aren't interested. In person attendance is going to fluctuate based on things like the course itself, parking/shuttles, and price sensitivity in addition to strength of field (but see above...it's going to be lousy for at least a while). Tiger has unintentionally ruined it for most tournaments.

The only way to change these realities is to do something different such as forcing the players into a tournament rotation every 3 years (Tiger included). It won't happen until more and more sponsors realize that they don't get bang for their buck anymore and the players are forced to change. At the same time, the Canadian Open needs to be somehow more Canadian (give them all a pet beaver?) and more special (marketeers call this branding)...otherwise it's just another meaningless way for somebody to make $1mm for 4 days work that nobody cares much about.

BTW, Weeks has been on the Euro tour thing for a while now...check out his editorial about a year ago in Score.

[cleveland]

I wonder if this was an April Fool's joke?

I certainly love the idea. Will it still be called the Canadian Open? If so who gives a hoot if the P.G.A. pulled out,(or whatever REALLY happened). the Euro's will love to have us aboard. I only ask that it remains OUR championship. :D

[bigbertha]

I'm always curious, why can't they move it to another province like BC?

[Golden Bear]

I'm always curious, why can't they move it to another province like BC?As long as it's the week after the British Open, there's no way they'll do that. It's tough enough getting players to play it in the east with the travel time from the UK ... sending them to the other side of the continent would completely deplete the field.

[Kona Golf]

I'm always curious, why can't they move it to another province like BC?

There are lot's of reasons but the main one is the course itself. We have many awseome golf courses across this country but not many that can support the fanfair that goes with a PGA event. PGA starts 2 - 3 years in advance directing the golf course to be in PGA shape. Many courses can not shut down for 2 -3 weeks in mid season. Many courses that could support the Canadian Open simply do not want to.

Can the course can support the grandstands, fan traffic all around the course with out interfering with play, room for all the tents, parking, accomodations, airport and the list goes on!

It takes a lot more than just a great golf course. This is something the RCGA has struggled with for years.

[Andru]

I'm always curious, why can't they move it to another province like BC?

There's an 8 hour time difference. And a 10 hour flight. Maybe longer. Just not practical for a tour player. It's too bad. BC has some awesome courses and they have the infrastructure to host a tourney.