Loch Lomond & Scottish Open

The Scottish Open looks likely to have a new venue for 2011. The tournament, played the week before the Open Championship in July, has been staged over the fabulous Tom Weiskopf design at Loch Lomond since 1996, but after months of speculation a spokesman for the club confirmed that the members were set to complete a buy out from the Bank of Scotland who have been in control since the former owner, American financier Lyle Anderson, lost control back in 2008.


The members have raised the necessary funds and appear set to sign documents next week bringing ownership of the golf course under the banner of a new company called Loch Lomond Members Club.

A spokesman for the members executive committee said, "The support we have received from the members has been exceptional and highlights what great affection there is for the club. The goal now is to move forward with plans to consolidate Loch Lomond's reputation as one of the foremost private members' clubs in the world." 


The spokesman went on to add, "We believe that the Barclays Scottish Open will move to a links course. This is absolutely fine by us, since Loch Lomond's reputation for golfing excellence is already established and we now want to concentrate on producing the best enviroment for our members."


A couple of links golf courses put their names into the hat towards the end of last year after getting some knowledge about the movements afoot at Loch Lomond,  the two named have both been recently constructed, the Rennaisance Club and Castle Stuart Golf Links, 2007 and 2008 respectively.


The Rennaisance appears to have dropped out, from what I can gather, after visits to both courses were conducted by the European Tour towards the end of last year. The momentum appears to have swung in favour of Castle Stuart Golf Links which I personally believe to be the best new golf course in Scotland over the last decade. It is stunning.


The walk from the 10th tee at Castle Stuart.


Designed by Mark Parsinen who along with Kyle Phillips was responsible for the superb Kingsbarns located a seven miles south of St. Andrews, what he has produced here in the Highlands of Scotland, close to the city of Inverness, along with co-designer Gil Hanse is breathtakingly beautiful and great fun to play once you put your camera down. 

A view across to the 9th green and the Moray Firth behind.


So finally all those detractors who consistently complained about the location of the Scottish Open being played over Loch Lomond, arguably the best inland golf course in Europe, a week before the Open Championship will look to get their wish and see the tournament going to a Scottish links golf course. I sincerely hope that the venue is Castle Stuart Golf Links

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