For some bizarre reason we know that the 2051 US Open will be taking place at Oakland Hills. The PGA of America aren’t quite as forward thinking as the USGA but we have all got the 2037 Ryder Cup date in our diary, with Congressional marked next to it.
In Europe things are kept a little closer to the chest with the R&A still to inform us where the 2026 Open will head to. In terms of the Ryder Cup, which is run by the PGA and DP World Tour, we are yet to find out where the 2031 competition will be staged.
Since Europe joined the party in 1979 the following countries have held a home Ryder Cup – England (5), Spain, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France and Italy. The Belfry, home to the PGA, has staged four of these but the Midlands resort has already pulled out of the running for 2031 though they may well be interested in the next one in 2035.
Hulton Park in Bolton was a leftfield possibility though the local councillors rejected the proposals with one protester claiming that the plans were a ‘housing project in golf clothing’. A possible U-turn might arise with a need for more major events to be staged outside of London but the current English frontrunner is The London Club in Kent.
This ticks plenty of boxes; given its proximity to the capital, it has held tour events over the years, there is endless space given there are 36 holes on the property and it sits next to the M25.
Another frontrunner is PGA Catalunya in Spain, which has held just one Ryder Cup previously when Seve Ballesteros led the hosts to victory at Valderrama. Catalunya was keen to host the 2023 competition and, under the impetus and money of Irish millionaire Denis O’Brien, it has received plenty of backing from the local federations and government.
Who knows what golf and the Ryder Cup will look like in nine years’ time but the onus is on the host venue to play host to the DP World Tour for a number of years as all its predecessors have done. Take the K Club as a good example who staged the European Open from 1995-2007 before dropping off the radar.
(Image credit: Getty…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golf Monthly RSS Feed…