By Robert Thompson | October 13, 2005
- There’s a fierce debate ongoing at Toronto Golf Nuts about the relative merits of Angus Glen North, the course that will host the 2007 Canadian Open. While Angus Glen remains the course upon which all others are judged in terms of service and the South Course is a terrific test of golf, for some reason the North just doesn’t quite work. Perhaps it is the mix of architects (both Doug Carrick and Jay Morrish did work there) or the use of ultra wide fairways that cut back on the strategic value of each hole. Regardless, every one seems concerned that the course will get killed by the best on the PGA Tour. Not sure that is going to happen, but what difference does it make? A winning score of -20 under won’t be an issue — not on the PGA Tour these days. And if the RCGA wants to continue kidding itself that this event is still relevant, then just wait to see what sort of field shows up in 2007. The organization is so concerned about this that they double-crossed Doug Carrick by bringing in Davis Love III to rework his course. All Love is going to do is put his name on the design and then the RCGA will have paid him in order to talk up the course. Changes? Sure there will be some — but Carrick had already planned significant alterations anyway.
- As for the value of the North course, let’s just say it works fine for the corporate market which it serves. The lucky crew who get to play in these tournaments actually hit a few fairways and pace of play is great. That’s what really matters and that’s what the staff at Angus appreciate. For what it is worth, I’ve always had fun playing the North Course. Interestingly, it is one of those courses where you are better off stepping back a set of tees, rather than forward, which is normally the case.
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Thanks to
Geoff Shackelford for pointing out a great Golf Week story about changes to the PGA Tour’s schedule. Interestingly, the story has this quote from Bill Paul, tournament director of the RCGA: “Golf has a problem because there is not a defined season. Why bash your head against football?” That suggests the Canadian Open, as has been long rumoured, is on the move. Golfweek suggests that some tournaments will disappear, most notably the B.C. Open, Reno-Tahoe Open and Chrysler Classic of Tucson. But what happens if Bell Canada doesn’t sign on to sponsor the Canadian Open for another five years? Could it become the next B.C. Open?
A bestselling author and award-winning columnist, Robert Thompson has been writing about business and sports, and particularly golf, for almost two decades. His reporting and commentary on golf has appeared in Golf Magazine, the Globe and Mail, T&L Golf and many other media outlets. Currently a columnist with Sympatico.ca and Ontario Golf, and a contributing writer to ScoreGolf, his blog, Going for the Green, was launched in 2004. 
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