In the second instalment of a four-part series, we spoke with Royal Troon’s Club Secretary Stephen Anthony about the logistics of planning for The Open.
How far out do you start planning for The Open?
Planning started more or less straight after the 2016 Open finished. As with all Open venues, we are in partnership with The R&A preparing to present the best courses and venues for each Open. When your club is on the Open rota, even before your club has been announced as the host for a particular year, the club is working with The R&A looking at course improvements and installation of infrastructure. One example of this is the installation of the miles of fibre optic cable that are ploughed in the length and breadth of the course that are used by the TV companies to beam pictures to the 199 countries that broadcast The Open all over the world.
Initially there were to be no changes to the Old course, however, two years out Martin Slumbers felt that the course needed lengthening and perhaps a few bunkers needed to be added. Following discussions, it was agreed that in winter 2022/23 we would add length to eight holes with the construction of new tees and add four new bunkers. For the time being, we now have the longest hole and dare I say will always have the shortest hole on the Open rota.
Apart from the ongoing planning between Opens, the detailed planning starts 18 months out. The planning is in two areas; one with The R&A covering all areas outside the clubhouse; the other, which is if anything more important to the club, is the planning for the clubhouse and what we offer our members and their guests.
What are the key considerations and top priorities for the club in the planning stage?
Initially a Championship Committee is formed 18 months prior to The Open. The Committee consists of a Chair and Conveners for Course, Marshalling, Scoring, Recording, House, Media and Comms plus the Course Manager and Secretary.
Key considerations and priorities naturally include the condition of the course, which is left to the expert in our Course Manager together with our Course Convener assisted by The R&A agronomist and other R&A staff. The Marshalling, Scoring and Recording Conveners are looking for 1,900 volunteers, so the club contacts 18–21 local clubs to provide the volunteers to cover all the required roles.
The House Convener forms a small Committee to consider how the clubhouse will operate during the Open and is guided by our expert in our Clubhouse Manager, the main objective and top priority here being planning to provide the members with best experience possible in the clubhouse during The Open.
With the course closing for four weeks for The Open, another priority is to arrange as many courtesy rounds of golf as possible for members to enjoy during the three weeks before the event itself.
Would you do it every year if you could?
Definitely not, and that applies to both the club and myself. As far as the club is concerned, the disruption The Open causes and the loss of the course for a month, not to mention playing off mats for a considerable period, the members definitely would not want it. From my own perspective, it has been an honour and privilege to have been Secretary for two Opens, and an AIG Women’s Open. However, while not set in stone, the chances of me being here for another Open as Secretary are few and far between.
