Bill Longmuir seeks boost for Senior Tour

Bill Longmuir is hoping for a rethink of the Seniors Tour.

“When I started out in the senior ranks in 2003, there were 22 events; now there are a lot fewer,” said the 62-year-old, who is coming to the end of a winter post as the director of golf at Royal Westmoreland in Barbados.

The 2016 European Senior Tour schedule, in fact, currently consists of 12 events, having been boosted by the recent addition of a new tournament at Hanbury Manor in England and the return after a six-year absence of the Italian Senior Open.

The latter is a spin-off from Italy winning the battle to stage the 2022 Ryder Cup, for which Keith Pelley, the chief executive, secured a bumper deal for the European Tour.

“I am hopeful that Keith Pelley can restructure the European Seniors Tour,” added Longmuir. “It’s a great product for sponsors bearing in mind that the average age of the amateur golfer is 50-plus. The feedback I get from spectators and  people I meet at golf clubs is that there is an awful lot of interest out there.

“I believe Keith needs to focus on marketing and getting more TV coverage for tournaments. There are options now with live streaming and other TV companies. Unfortunately, the European Senior Tour is tied into a deal with Sky and they only show an hour-long highlights programme very late at night or early in the morning.

“I feel sure that, with more exposure, the Tour will become more attractive to sponsors. If Keith can get a team around him more open to fresh, new ideas and a thinking-outside-the-box attitude then it can only get better. There is clearly a demand out there with the emergence of several satellite tours.”

Despite those circuits increasing playing opportunities for young professionals, Scottish golf is currently having problems when it comes to the top amateurs making the transition to the paid ranks.

“I hadn’t quite realised that Scotland wasn’t producing younger golfers,” said Longmuir of the country’s youngest full-time European Tour players being 32-year-olds Richie Ramsay and Scott Jamieson.

“I think you have to bring the game into schools. When I was an assistant pro at Thorpe Hall Golf Club I used to teach at two schools on their playing fields. Just small groups with pupils who were interested in playing golf and it worked very well. I also feel that every golf club in Scotland has a duty to run a club Junior Open once a year split into age groups because at that young age competition is vital.”

While still very competitive himself, Longmuir has enjoyed spending the last few months as the “front-of-house face” at Royal Westmoreland, where he recorded one of his Senior Tour triumphs.

“I was approached late last summer by Greg Schofield, who offered me a seven-month contract here from the beginning of October to the end of April,” he said. “After considering my options it was an easy decision to make!

“I’ve been coming to Barbados for over 30 years for the Robert Sangster Pro Am, which is held every January. Royal Westmoreland has also hosted a tournament on the European Seniors Tour on ten occasions and in 2008 I was fortunate enough to win.

“Barbados is somewhere I feel very comfortable: the  climate, the people and the general relaxed way of life.

“I feel that I bring a vast amount of experience in regards to what people should expect in coming to a high-end golf resort.

“I’m very much a people person and it is my passion that everyone should get the most out of their golf.

“Clearly, with regard to teaching, having been a player, I teach through practical knowledge and I think I’m able to get that across to people.”

Born to Scottish parents but raised in Essex, Longmuir has always regarded himself as a Scot at heart. He twice led after the opening round of the Open, first at Royal Lytham in 1979 then five years later at  St Andrews.

The announcement earlier this year that the Senior Open Championship will be played on the Old Course for the first time in 2018 has Longmuir licking his lips in anticipation.

“It would mean an awful lot to me to play in that event and I will be doing my absolute best to qualify,” he declared.

“It is the best venue for a major event in the world.”