In the Ottawa Sun this morning

[NoBack]

Just read in the Sun this morning that Ottawa is still on a list to host the 2008-2009 Bell Canadian Open. They are talking about either Hunt Club or Eagle Creek. Wouldnt that be awsome.

Right in our own backyard.

[EDSGOLF]

Dear Mike Weir,

If you need a place to stay in 2008, I'll leave the light on for ya!

EDSGolf.

[LobWedge]

Just read in the Sun this morning that Ottawa is still on a list to host the 2008-2009 Bell Canadian Open. They are talking about either Hunt Club or Eagle Creek. Wouldnt that be awsome.

Right in our own backyard.

If Eagle Creek wants it they'd better improve the drainage on a few holes and they're going to have to completely redo the front end around the clubhouse.

Hunt Club would be the traditional choice but the RCGA could score a lot of points by holding the tournament at a public course.

[sensfan63]

If Eagle Creek wants it they'd better improve the drainage on a few holes and they're going to have to completely redo the front end around the clubhouse.

Hunt Club would be the traditional choice but the RCGA could score a lot of points by holding the tournament at a public course.

Anyone have any opinions as to what courses in the Ottawa area could host the Open?

Personally I think the Hunt Club is way too short for a pro event...I think they could stretch it too 6600 yards, maybe. That's just too short for a professional tournament.

Eagle Creek...well, the last time that the Canadian Tour was there, the winning score was 23 under par, so they would have to firm up the fairways and greens and grow the rough really high and thick...

What about Rideau View?

[el tigre]

Personally I think the Hunt Club is way too short for a pro event...I think they could stretch it too 6600 yards, maybe. That's just too short for a professional tournament.

Flagstick Magazine lists the yardage for Ottawa Hunt at 6,800 yards, which is not that far off the length of the Hamilton G&CC site used in 2003 (which was well-liked by the players). I don't know the Ottawa Hunt course, but if they could add a few new tee boxes, grow the rough a little thick, make it a par 70 course, etc., it might work.

[Ginker]

I think Stonebridge late in the year when the rough is long its a tough test. You gotta hit the fairway or you can't find your ball.

[powerlefty]

I like Stonebridge but it would not be an adequate venue - way to short. The pros would be hitting 3 irons off most tees and sand wedges into most greens. They would turn it into a pitch and putt course. Also it has no clubhouse and not much room for all the required infrastructure - TV compound, corporate tents, etc, etc. Now the Marshes on the other hand already has substantial length and could be stretched out even more in a few places. They have the Brookstreet hotel basically onsite so it could host the event, the clubhouse is excellent and they could probably set up the required corporate tents, etc where they are building the new par-3 course.

[mberube]

Personally I think the Hunt Club is way too short for a pro event...I think they could stretch it too 6600 yards, maybe. That's just too short for a professional tournament.

Eagle Creek...well, the last time that the Canadian Tour was there, the winning score was 23 under par, so they would have to firm up the fairways and greens and grow the rough really high and thick...
What about Rideau View?

I have never played the Hunt but 6600Y is way to short for the PGA. Eagle Creek to easy for the PGA unless there is some modification done on the course. Rumours are that ClubLink has a serious offer on the table to by Eagle creek!!!! If they do by It they will dump allot of money in the course like they did at the Dome last year (1.5Millon$).

The Talon at GrayHawk is opening in Jun 2004. This is going to be a tour quality course.

Mike

[Farzin]

They can turn Falcon Ridge into a PGA Championship course with some work on the greens and fairways and a nice new clubhouse across from casino.

[mberube]

They can turn Falcon Ridge into a PGA Championship course with some work on the greens and fairways and a nice new clubhouse across from casino.

I visited the course with the teaching pro. There a couple of 600+ yard holes on the course but I am not sure of the course quality!

[broken27]

I like Stonebridge but it would not be an adequate venue - way to short. The pros would be hitting 3 irons off most tees and sand wedges into most greens. They would turn it into a pitch and putt course. Also it has no clubhouse and not much room for all the required infrastructure - TV compound, corporate tents, etc, etc. Now the Marshes on the other hand already has substantial length and could be stretched out even more in a few places. They have the Brookstreet hotel basically onsite so it could host the event, the clubhouse is excellent and they could probably set up the required corporate tents, etc where they are building the new par-3 course.

Le Dome (or I guess it's now Club de Golf Des Hautes Plaines) would be an interesting venue, although the infrastructure could pose serious problems. I'd love to see how the pros would play that course.

Dan

[Colby]

They can turn Falcon Ridge into a PGA Championship course with some work on the greens and fairways and a nice new clubhouse across from casino.

What kind of work? Ripping them up and rebuilding? I'm sure the pros would love to play in those clover filed fairways. It's not bad as a low end public course, but it would require millions to upgrade it.

[mberube]

Le Dome (or I guess it's now Club de Golf Des Hautes Plaines) would be an interesting venue, although the infrastructure could pose serious problems. I'd love to see how the pros would play that course.

Dan

I am a member at Hautes Plaines and needless to say that it's a difficult course to play when the rough is high and the greens are ultra fast but it is way to short for the Pros.

An 18 year old posted a score of 65 from the back tees and that's with a couple of bogeys on his round.

The Pro's would eat that course alive. They would hit irons of most tees. They can reach the green some par 4's.

[mr shank]

Anyone have any opinions as to what courses in the Ottawa area could host the Open?

Personally I think the Hunt Club is way too short for a pro event...I think they could stretch it too 6600 yards, maybe. That's just too short for a professional tournament.

Eagle Creek...well, the last time that the Canadian Tour was there, the winning score was 23 under par, so they would have to firm up the fairways and greens and grow the rough really high and thick...

What about Rideau View?

Last time the CPGA played Rideau View there was a course record set the first day, and that was with the rough over a foot tall. PGA players would eat that course up even with it playing over 7000 yards.

I've never played it, but what about The Marshes? Other than that I don't think there are any courses around that would stand up to PGA standards without major changes.

[mberube]

Camelot golf C&C is a very challenging course from the gold tees. I don't know how the tour players would do on that course!

[Andru]

Camelot golf C&C is a very challenging course from the gold tees. I don't know how the tour players would do on that course!

They will destroy any course in Ottawa unless the conditions are extreme IE: high winds, etc etc.

It's hard to imagine until you've seen the magnitude of a PGA event. From what I've seen of hunt club, and I haven't seen much. I don't know. It think it's chance has passed. Also. You have to wonder if the hunt club would want an event. The course will be shut down for 3 weeks. The fairways will be trampled buy 100,000 people over 7 days, Also they'll have to use portions of the other course for Corporate Tents. 2 camera crews. ( CTV and ESPN ). Hospitality. Expanded driving range (width not length). Portable Washrooms, snackbars. I will say this. Hamilton pulled it off. I'm curious to know what the amenities were like. Imagine the traffic on Hunt Club for that week. Yikes.

I've been to 3 tour events. Two were located in fairly remote areas with courses built on huge lots. One was in a city, but they used large portions of a second 18 to house the stuff mentioned above.

Eagle Creek. With some conditioning could do the job. Dry out the greens, pinch the fairways, and grow the rough. It's the facilities and location that cause grief for organizers. Where are you going to put 20,000 cars?

[Colby]

I agree with Andru. A PGA Tour event is lots of fun, but the course really takes a beating. I marshalled at Westchester last year for the Buick and after the last day, I was standing guard with the club pro protecting the first green and fairway from spectators trying to cut across instead of using the paths. With the rain and crowd stomping through the rough for 4-6 days, some parts of the course were destroyed. He figured that it would take 4-6 weeks to get things fixed. I asked him if it was worth it and he said no, but the club president wants it so it happens.

[mberube]

I went to a LPGA event in MTL and they used the surrounding farmlands to park the cars and used shuttle buses to bring people the gates.

Eagle creek has allot of farmland in that region.

[mr shank]

They will destroy any course in Ottawa unless the conditions are extreme IE: high winds, etc etc.

It's hard to imagine until you've seen the magnitude of a PGA event. From what I've seen of hunt club, and I haven't seen much. I don't know.

You're right Andru, Hunt Club is a great track, but PGA caliber players would destroy this course as it is, and I doubt there is enough room there to make enough changes to bring it to PGA standards.

Anyone know why the Marshes wouldn't be considered?

[Colby]

Anyone know why the Marshes wouldn't be considered?

I've heard that a European tour event is being considered there and I'm not sure how acceptable the 6 par 3s would be, usually there are 4 sometimes 5 on a course.

[Farzin]

What kind of work? It's not bad as a low end public course, but it would require millions to upgrade it.

It might be a low end course because it's less expensive to play, and it might need some reseeding, but takes a good player to score well there and it is very hard to beat the course, specially when it comes to Amen corner, 9,10,11, 12. you also got to play it from the blues to appreciate the difficulty of the course.

[broken27]

I am a member at Hautes Plaines and needless to say that it's a difficult course to play when the rough is high and the greens are ultra fast but it is way to short for the Pros.

An 18 year old posted a score of 65 from the back tees and that's with a couple of bogeys on his round.

The Pro's would eat that course alive. They would hit irons of most tees. They can reach the green some par 4's.

That's true enough. I suppose it's hard to imagine how a pro hits off the tee compared to a hacker like me. Never broke 90 at Le Dome, and now it's private so I can't play my favourite course anymore... :cryin

What about the Royal Ottawa where the LPGA played a couple years ago?

Dan

[Andru]

It might be a low end course because it's less expensive to play, and it might need some reseeding, but takes a good player to score well there and it is very hard to beat the course, specially when it comes to Amen corner, 9,10,11, 12. you also got to play it from the blues to appreciate the difficulty of the course.

I understand where you're coming from. I guess to appreciate the quality and difficulty of a PGA course you have to go see one. I swear on my life I'm not trying to be condescending in anyway. Check out the Canadian Open this year @ Glen Abbey.

It's a real treat to see the pros the condition and setup of the course.

The Marshes. Yeah the 6 par 3's are a problem. The par 5's are no big deal move the tees up on 9 and 14 to the blues and make them par 4's. It has the quality and the rough. I'd love to play it dry and fast one day. Just to see.

[Colby]

It might be a low end course because it's less expensive to play, and it might need some reseeding, but takes a good player to score well there and it is very hard to beat the course, specially when it comes to Amen corner, 9,10,11, 12. you also got to play it from the blues to appreciate the difficulty of the course.

Farzin,

You need to get out to a top end course to see what it is really like. There may be one or two in the Ottawa area that might be considered. It's a tough course for the amateur, but a pro won't have any problem shaping the ball the way they want. They would be more unhappy with hurting their hants hitting the clay under the spotty grass of the fairways. Stonebridge is probably one of the better conditioned courses, and they spent millions laying bent grass sod in the fairways, not just seeing the fairways like they did at Falcon Ridge. The Marshes also spent a fortune on their fairways, and the result for a second year old course is amazing (based on last year). The fairways at the Marshes are better than some of the tee boxes and greens on other public courses including Falcon Ridge.

I agree, Falcon Ridge is long from the blues, but the guys on tour average 300 yards or so on their drives. A big difference from the average joe hitting 250-260 off the tee, barlet reaching the fairway.

With other choices in town requiring less money to be spent on upgrades, construction of tee boxes etc, Falcon Ridge would be a long way down the list for a Canadian Open Event.

Another bonus would be that you could walk over and talk to the cows next to Raceview 9!

[Farzin]

I understand where you're coming from. I guess to appreciate the quality and difficulty of a PGA course you have to go see one. I swear on my life I'm not trying to be condescending in anyway. Check out the Canadian Open this year @ Glen Abbey.

It's a real treat to see the pros the condition and setup of the course.

I have only been at Royal Ottawa golf club when they had the LPGA there a few years ago. I was amazed by the condition of fairways and the greens, All little brown patches were marked for a free drop. One thing came to my mind is what would the pros will score if they play on the same courses as average Joe does, or what would average Joe score if he plays on the courses that they play on.

But the reason I brought Falcon Ridge up, It wasn't because of the quality of the course, I think It is the location, the layout of the course which makes it very hard and being long enough "7200 yard long from blues", plus it's capabilties to have spectatores. these condition siute any PGA championship event, better than eagle creek,...,stonebrigde and ....

It might take a million or tow dollars to bring that course in tip top shape, I think it will pay off for a good investor or investors. You think I could do that? I wish. , but links golf can do it.

[Colby]

Farzin,

They would have to put in much better drainage, improve the foundation of the fairways and greens and lay sod everywhere. It's got a clay base, and it's almost impossible to have a decent course with that kind of base.

And there is nothing you can do about the visuals of the course as it was built on pasture land. It's pretty much flat with only a couple of holes with any sort of elevation. Also the visuals of the course is boring. Army golf with fairway side by side with other fairways on several holes, 6-7 and 15 in particular.

It would take years and probably 5-10 million to clean it up, rebuilding all of the greens and fairways, and building a proper clubhouse. They are making money today, spending that kind of money hoping for a PGA event would not get a sniff from any investor.

Eagle Creek, the Marshes, etc would require some capital to fix it up, but nowhere near what Falcon Ridge would cost. Also Eagle Creek and the Marshes are sitting at 7000 yards today, Falcon Ridge is not even 6900 from the tips.

It would be nice, but I personally think that every course in the Ottawa area has some issue that must be overcome before the PGA Tour would hold an event in Ottawa. The prestige courses in the area, Hunt, Rideauview, are probably a bit too short, Eagle Creek now has a clubhouse, but there are a few holes that do not provide a really good spectator area especially for the numbers at an Open, The Marshes has 6 par threes, Kanata is too short and too crowded with houses.

It's one of the reasons that Clublink spent 24 million to build Le Fountainebleau near Montreal. It's already booked the Canadian Skins game this year, and is in the running along with the Royal Montreal for a future Open. 7100 from the golds and a 4 million dollar clubhouse. Back up a couple of tees to get another 100 yards or so, and it's all ready.

As for us playing courses that pros play, we still shoot our usual scores, or if it's tournament conditions, we shoot higher as I did playing Landmark after the Skins game a couple of years ago. The rough is the nastiest stuff I ever saw and this was after what was essentially an exhibition match. The fairways and greens are spectacular, but we still have to make the shots. And the pros make their shots pretty much all of the time, hitting the center of their clubface constantly. The would eat our public courses up.

[broken27]

I'm certainly no expert, but what about Chateau Montebello? Although I was very much a beginner, it seemed like a nice course, has plenty of amenities to host such an event, and is roughly halfway between Ottawa and Montreal, thus garnering a huge population base to work from in terms of crowds.

Dan

[golferwilliam]

He guys. get with the program.
There isn't a course within 150 miles of ottawa that can host the Canadian Open.
We just don't have the facilities that can handle the traffic.
The Hunt had trouble with the ladies tournament. Eagle Creek couldn't handle the people and Hospitality tents. And the Marshes course is just not good enough. Inspite of what they want you to beleive. Can you imagine a train going thru with the players teeing off or having to aim at a high tech building to get the right line of a fairway. The Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup will never happen here also.
The Canadian tour is a far cry from the National Open. Good Luck with your dreams.
It just won't happen. Take it from an informed local.

We need better Golf courses.

[Colby]

He guys. get with the program.
There isn't a course within 150 miles of ottawa that can host the Canadian Open.
We just don't have the facilities that can handle the traffic.
The Hunt had trouble with the ladies tournament. Eagle Creek couldn't handle the people and Hospitality tents. And the Marshes course is just not good enough. Inspite of what they want you to beleive. Can you imagine a train going thru with the players teeing off or having to aim at a high tech building to get the right line of a fairway. The Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup will never happen here also.
The Canadian tour is a far cry from the National Open. Good Luck with your dreams.
It just won't happen. Take it from an informed local.

We need better Golf courses.

I think I said that in slightly different words. It would take changes to any course, some of them major changes to course and/or infrastrcuture, to make it work.

[Rough Stuff]

We need better Golf courses.

True to a degree. I have, like many others on here, golfed around the world. The one thing I appreciate about our courses: cheap and accessible. Would I pay top $ to play on a good course? Not every weekend. Montreal and Toronto are hellishly expensive for the regular joe, without having to drive more than 1/2 hour or pay more than $80 for a round.