Familiarity breeds contentment for Genesis Scottish Open

The Herald Scotland

21 hours ago

While reading about the possibility of some kind of heatwave in these parts – that means it'll be 16 degrees and blustery - I also glimpsed an article informing us that good old planet earth is now spinning faster than ever.
A couple of years ago, this clump of space rock that we all eke out an existence on completed a full rotation in a time that was 1.66 milliseconds shorter than its standard 24-hour twirl. By early August, it could go even quicker. Just like my backswing.
In this on-going cost of living crisis, we're now getting less planetary birl for our buck. What a state we're in.
Apparently, this acceleration in the earth's revolution is caused by a number of factors including something called the Chandler Wobble. Funnily enough, that sounds just like the desperate golfing affliction that I've developed when hunched over short putts.
But enough about my jittery capers on the greens. The crème de la crème will be out in force over the next few days as eight of the world's top-10 headline a star-studded field.
It's big business this Scottish Open lark. According to the number crunchers, last year's championship delivered a net economic impact of £19.2 million to the country's coffers.
The local East Lothian economy alone benefitted to the tune of £7.8 million which, in the current climate of eye-popping accommodation costs, is broadly equivalent to the price of a week's stay in a static caravan at Seton Sands. Or something like that.
In terms of sustainability, meanwhile, this week's showpiece is championing a 'Better with Nature' campaign as spectators are offered the chance to learn more about the environment that surrounds the course via a nature trail and scavenger hunt.
It sounds a bit like the palaver I regularly embark on when looking for my tee-shot in the kind of undergrowth that David Bellamy used to rummage about in.
This will be the seventh year in a row that the Renaissance has staged the Genesis Scottish Open. After a spell when the event moved around various venues, it seems to have found something of a home in this opulent corner of East Lothian.
Familiarity breeds contentment. The strength of the field is proof of that.
About a decade ago, when host courses for the championship were being discussed, the late, former First Minister, Alex Salmond, whose government was heavily involved in the event, said that the Scottish Open wouldn't go to the ultra-exclusive Renaissance club as, 'it would not communicate an ideal message about Scottish golf being open to all.'
Fair enough, but you could've said that about a heck of a lot of venues. I can't recall, for instance, much handwringing when the Scottish Open took up a prolonged and hugely popular residency at Loch Lomond, a place so exclusive it would make the Yacht Club de Monaco look like the Clyde puffers in Para Handy.
Crowds of almost 90,000 would pack the Bonnie Banks. Let's face it, us ordinary Joes like the odd point-and-gawp at how the other half live, don't we? It's the golfing version of a tour around a stately home.
Since becoming the host venue in 2019, the Renaissance has certainly grown into the role. That year, it hosed it down the week before, the going was relatively soft and there was hardly a breath of wind.
Early criticisms – it was 'too easy' - were taken on board and the course has evolved and matured with each passing year.
You've got to tread carefully with professional golfers, of course. If the test was too demanding, they'd all be moaning about being beaten up before the ultimate links test at The Open the following week. The poor souls.
Anyway, the Renaissance is pencilled into the diary for 2026. After that? Well, discussions are on-going. The obvious issue centres around any return of The Open to neighbouring Muirfield.
A venue for the 2028 Open has not yet been announced. If the Scottish Open stayed at the Renaissance for a few more seasons, would they shift it for the one year when The Open came back to Muirfield? Or would they hold the two events back-to-back?
In a chinwag the other day with John Sarvadi, the chief executive of the Renaissance, the American was certainly keen on the idea of a blockbusting double-whammy in the same postcode.
'I did ask some of the players and officials about it and they said they'd love to have it back-to-back,' he said. 'They could set up in East Lothian for a couple of weeks.'
Those static caravan parks would be raking it in. I'm sure my golf writing brethren would revel in the opportunity to hop over the wa' and effortlessly go from a Scottish Open to an Open Championship too.
This week, for instance, we'll not get out of the Renaissance media centre until yon time on Sunday night – the US television broadcast deal means late tee-offs – and Rory McIlroy is doing his pre-Open press conference over the water at Portrush on Monday.
It'll be another gasping, panting turnaround. No wonder the bloomin' earth is spinning faster.
Now, where's that knotted hankie for my heid?