Leisurecorp tempers European Open plans

Published on Tuesday 21 April 2009 23:32

THE Ailsa links at Turnberry will become an occasional site for the European Open rather than a permanent home after Royal and Ancient officials expressed reservations about an Open championship venue shedding its exclusivity.

Last autumn, after paying 55million for Turnberry, Leisurecorp revealed ambitions to bring more tournaments to the Ailsa.

On hearing of those plans, R&A chief executive Peter Dawson cautioned: "Being entirely honest on that, we'd like to think the Open championship venues are special and not used as routinely as others, though we also recognise the realities of commercial life."

Since the Open is the jewel in the crown for Turnberry and the owners won't want to wait another 15 years to bring the championship back, Leisurecorp golf chief executive David Spencer backed off the idea of the Ailsa as a permanent home for the European Open.

In October, he said: "I think the European Open is a transportable event, but it could also have a (permanent] home. And Turnberry would be a likely candidate for a home venue."

Yesterday he was more circumspect: "We talked about this last October when we were discussing the future of the European Open and how it may occasionally pass by at Turnberry. The European Open is a joint venture between ourselves and the European Tour. This year it will be at the London club and at some stage it would make sense for Leisurecorp to bring it to Turnberry.

"There are a couple of reasons for that. One would be to test any further changes we might want to make to the course, with the backing of the R&A. The Open is the pinnacle for any course to stage. It is very important to Turnberry in 2009 and in future years."