Clubs get cash aid for trips to Open
Apr 22 2009 by Alan Hedley, The Journal
GOLF clubs in the North East are being offered cash help by the organisers of The Open Championship to get to Turnberry in July.
The Royal and Ancient Club, who run The Open, are hoping to boost attendances at the July 16-19 event, in which Ireland’s Padraig Harrington will go for a third successive title and Tiger Woods returns to the championship after a knee operation.
“We are encouraging clubs to bring members and the R&A will pay £250 towards the cost of a coach,” said director of championships David Hill.
“In this period of recession, we’re trying to reach out to clubs and we will be contacting them with details. We’re asking them to bring 30 people.
“We’re also conscious that with the success of golf in Ireland, we’re anticipating a lot of people coming over and there will be a coach service from the ferry terminals.
“Corporate hospitality is 15%-20% down in line with all UK sporting events – everybody has suffered from that a little bit and it reflects the world we are currently in.
“But we’re not hugely concerned. We are pretty upbeat and we are confident that there is huge interest and that we should get to the same figures we had when The Open was last here in 1994.”
