Is Carnoustie Worthy of Another Open Championship

An Open venue must also supply the necessary amenities to support the ever-growing player and sponsor requirements.

Carnoustie is a small town in Angus that would be known as a backwater town if not for the three 18-hole courses located on the North Sea, making Carnoustie part of the game of golf’s DNA.

The first 10 holes of the Championship course were laid out by renowned Feathery golf ball maker Allan Robertson. Old Tom Morris extended the course to 18, and James Braid made sweeping changes in the 1920s.

The winners of the eight Open Championships held at Carnoustie include great names in the history of golf starting in 1931 with Tommy Armour, then Henry Cotton, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Paul Lawrie and Padraig Harrington.

The last Open came in 2018 when Italian Francesco Molinari won the Claret Jug.

Because Carnoustie was a blue-collar town and the course was not near any resort-type facilities, it found itself in desperate need for modernize or not see another Open.

The main issue of the day after the Watson win was the need for a modern hotel.

After bargaining with the R&A, a new hotel was built at the back of the 18^th green and the 1999 Open was granted to Carnoustie

But now over 25 years old, the hotel has undergone little updating and has undergone changes in ownership, making the R&A reluctant to bring the Open back.

With the next three Open scheduled for Royal Portrush, Royal Birkdale and St. Andrews, the earliest available year is 2028.

In a story by Money In Sport, a Substack newsletter, reviewing the Carnoustie issue, a paragraph from the Angus Council Officer in a consultation document said the following about discussions with the R&A.

“Discussions with the R&A – these began soon after the 2018 Open Championship and have continued since then to try to ensure that Carnoustie is well placed to be selected as a host once again. Discussions have focused on the need for improvement in the hotel and other facilities and have included CGLMC and their investors. As was outlined in the consultation document hosting The Open is much more than about the golf course and requires a full range of facilities which are of a sufficient standard for modern golf championships.”

The CGLMC, is the management company that contracts with the Angus Council, who owns the Carnoustie links.

In hopes of persuading the R&A that the Links can provide financial backing to upgrade the needed services, including the hotel, they are seeking an investment of approximately $127 million.

As a potential solution according to Money In Sport, the Angus Council is currently proposing to pass control of all

three courses at the Links to the hotel operator, who would then see a financial benefit to invest in the hotel.

In 2018, Carnoustie had 180,000 spectators.

This was a much smaller attendance figure than the 292,000 in 2022 at St. Andrews or the 258,174 last year at Royal Troon.

The issues between the Angus Council, the owners of the hotel, the CGLMC, and the R&A make this a much more complicated question that may force Carnoustie to the sidelines in the foreseeable future.

Clearly other Rota venues can generate much larger attendance numbers and more revenue for the R&A.

Next up, Turnberry.