The Open Championship golf tees up potential £80 million windfall for Kent

The return of Open Championship golf to Kent this week is set to result in more than £80 million of income for the county.

And the long-term legacy of holding the prestigious event is likely to result in many millions of pounds being generated for Kent’s economy through visitors from home and abroad enjoying golf and leisure breaks in the Garden of England.

Indeed, a strategic tie-up between Visit Kent, Golfbreaks.com and Shepherd Neame (the renowned Kent-based brewer, pub and hotel operator) will serve to position the county as one of Europe’s foremost golf destinations.

The sport will also benefit following the creation of a Golf Legacy program – set up jointly by Kent Golf Partnership and Kent County Council (KCC) with funding from the R&A, organiser of the Open Championship – designed to increase participation.

More than 200,000 spectators and 2,000 media from across the world are expected to descend on Royal St George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, from July 14-17, with tens of thousands more attracted to take breaks in the Garden of England in the years after the Open.

It is anticipated that more than £80 million could be earned for the county’s economy through a mixture of direct spending and long-term destination marketing benefits.

And with more than twenty-five percent of spectators set to arrive from overseas, to complement the home-based support of the tournament, accommodation providers in East Kent are set to enjoy a significant boost.

The return of the Open Championship to Kent after an eight-year break owes much to the efforts of KCC and Dover District Council – supported in partnership by the districts of Canterbury, Thanet and Shepway – keen to secure an international sporting profile for the area and boost its economy.

Councillor Mike Hill OBE, KCC Cabinet Member for Customer & Communities, said: “The Open Championship is the largest annual single sports event in the UK with a visitor spend greater than Wimbledon and the London Marathon."

“Kent has a growing reputation for accommodating world-level sports events and the Open also gives us a huge platform to promote business opportunities in East Kent. The economic, tourism and reputational legacy from Kent accommodating the Open should therefore be very significant indeed.”

This year, with a record number of spectators expected (nearly 10% more than the 182,500 who attended in 2003), plus improved travel links from nearby London and continental Europe into Kent, the county could enjoy a record windfall from the Open. Golf courses, hotels, restaurants, travel companies and other local businesses are all set to benefit, creating more than a thousand jobs directly and indirectly.

For golfers seeking to enjoy a break, Kent offers a choice of more than one-hundred courses to play. Royal St George’s is part of Kent’s ‘Regal Golf Coast’, which includes Royal Cinque Ports (venue of The Open Championship in 1909 and 1920), Prince’s (the Open venue in 1932), Littlestone (a Final Qualifying course for this year’s Open) and North Foreland.

Complementing this quintet are London Golf Club (a European Tour Destination and home of the 2009 European Open and where work will soon start on a five-star golf and spa hotel resort) plus Chart Hills (designed by Sir Nick Faldo and ranked 82nd in Golf World Magazine’s Top 100 Courses in the UK and Ireland).

Sandra Matthews-Marsh, Chief Executive of Visit Kent, commented:  “Royal St George’s hosting the Open Championship offers Kent a significant opportunity to benefit – not just during Open week but in the months and years following the Championship, too.

“We, in tandem with our many partners, including Golfbreaks.com, Shepherd Neame and Kent County Council, are working hard to attract golfers and leisure visitors to enjoy short and long breaks in the Garden of England, and enjoy our wonderful variety of golf courses. We are sure the long-term legacy of the 2011 Open for Kent will be economic benefits running into many millions of pounds.”

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Golf: A Good Drive Gets You to Canada

A ten-hour road trip from New York to New Brunswick, Canada to play golf and experience differences in culture had the makings of a fun adventure but is this foreign country really foreign?

Driving through Maine past border crossing into Atlantic Canada was exciting as I have never experienced leaving the U.S.A. by automobile. The scenery is beautiful yet monotonous on both sides of the border and there aren't many exits along the way. Even my GPS periodically lost its signal until it closed in on the City of Fredericton.

Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook Hotel

I felt relieved to finally arrive at our destination, the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook, a business hotel with comfortable amenities located near legislative buildings, museums and lots of outdoor dining; free concerts are also provided during the season. The Changing of the Guard, a twice-daily Canadian event, occurs right down the street and I was disappointed that my schedule did not permit me time to experience it.

The Crowne Plaza also abuts the Saint John River and offers access to about sixteen miles of biking (mountain bikes available for rental) and hiking trails. Walking across the Old Train bridge, for example, is a great photo opportunity and gave us the chance to meet and greet other friendly strollers.

Be aware that Fredericton is not a late-night city. Although you can still get a coffee at Tim Hortons (the equivalent of Dunkin Donuts) or a Moosehead Light at the local Snooty Fox Pub, the streets are pretty much deserted.


Our first day of golf in Canada began with a hearty breakfast on the patio of the Terrace Room of the Crowne Plaza and then we drove about ten minutes to one of Fredericton, New Brunswick's signature golf courses.

Kingswood Golf Course, designed by Graham Cooke has a slew of accolades to its credit including a Top-20 in 2004 by Travel and Leisure Magazine, Golf Digest's best new course in 2003, top-100 pick in 2005 and was selected to host the 2010 University and College Championship.

Kingswood offers golfers a 9-hole executive course and an 18-hole Signature Course (which we played). It is scenic, well-manicured and offers golfers a challenging round. The interior of the clubhouse was created with wood from trees taken from the course giving it a log cabin feel and a Sam Snead's restaurant is currently under construction complete with memorabilia.

Our foursome included Jeffrey Hutt from Golf New Brunswick, Barry, myself and the eleven-year-old New Brunswick Junior golf champion, Graham Gourley, who also happens to be the son of Kingswood Golf Course Teaching Pro Bari Gourley.

Being beaten at golf by an eleven-year-old who weighs about eighty pounds soaking wet can be humbling but it also taught me a few things about how I can improve my own game, for example:

1. You can shoot an 84 without driving the golf ball more than 150 yards.

2. Keep shots in the short grass and, if necessary, get the golf ball back into the short grass whenever possible.

3. Lay-up to your "go-to" short game shot. Graham laid up all fairway shots to about 100 yards. Pick your favorite distance, the one you are confident with, and strike with confidence.

4. Try to two-putt every green: get the ball within the "circle of trust" then get it in the hole.



Stacy Solomon, NB Junior Champion Graham Gourley with Jeffrey Hutt of GolfNB.com



Dinner at the cozy yet hip Brewbakers restaurant located along King Street after the round provided me with my first taste of fresh Canadian seafood, a satisfying fettucine dish with shrimp and scallops.

A good night's sleep (yes, the Sleep Advantage Program at Crowne Plaza really IS comfortable) and we're off to to play golf at Fox Creek Golf Course in Dieppe, another challenging layout by Graham Cooke, along the Fundy Bay Drive in Atlantic Canada. Then, we're off to St. Andrews by-the-Sea to play golf at the Algonquin Signature Course and to catch a glimpse of a ghost at a haunted hotel!

To visit New Brunswick and experience the natural wonders for yourself just hit a good, long drive! Watch for part two of my Golf Canada Adventure in the Maritimes on Golf for Beginners. You can also view a few additional pictures on our Facebook page.

Thanks for the hospitality:

Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook Hotel, Fredericton, Canada

Kevin Johnston, Manager Kingswood Golf Course

Jeffrey Hutt, Golf New Brunswick
Bari Gourley, Teaching Professional, Kingwood Golf Course

And to all of the people of Canada that we encountered during our stay who were very friendly and welcoming!


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NBC ready with major coverage of 2011 U.S. Women’s Open Championship

NBC Sports Group is primed to deliver an unprecedented 25-plus hours of combined, live tournament and wrap-around news coverage of this week’s 2011 U.S. Women’s Open Championship – the third major championship on the ladies schedule this year.

More than 25 Hours of Live Tournament and On-Site News coverage. As long as NBC doesn't switch from the coverage mid tournament or during final round Sunday in favor of higher-rated programming, then hurray for the ladies! “Altitude and wicked greens will be the story, as well as whether world No. 1 Yani Tseng can complete the career grand slam and extend her current winning streak to three in a row.” ...Dottie Pepper “Paula Creamer’s breakthrough U.S. Open victory at Oakmont while enduring the pain of an injured thumb was a fairy tale. It seems the U.S. Open produces that type of story every year. I’m sure this year’s Open will be no exception.” analyst Charlie Rymer

NBC Sports Group is primed to deliver an unprecedented 25-plus hours of combined, live tournament and wrap-around news coverage of this week’s 2011 U.S. Women’s Open Championship – the third major championship on the ladies schedule this year. Contested on the East Course at the historic Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, Colo., NBC-TV will present six hours of live coverage over Saturday and Sunday, with Golf Channel providing wrap-around news coverage originating from the course throughout the week.There will also be online coverage of the U.S. Women's Open championship, including live chats and a special weekend wrap-up show offered exclusively online. NBC Dan Hicks will host NBC's coverage alongside analysts Johnny Miller and Dottie Pepper, who competed in nineteen U.S. Women's Opens during her illustrious career. They will be joined by tower reporter Gary Koch, and on-course reporters Roger Maltbie and former LPGA players Jane Crafter and Kay Cockerill. NBC-TV live coverage (all times ET): Saturday: 3-6 p.m. Sunday: 3-6 p.m. Follow the latest updates of the 2011 U.S. Women's Open Championship on Twitter with Golf4Beginners

Win a FREE Golf Vacation and Gear in Coastal Canada Summer Giveaway Contest!

GOLF COASTAL CANADA ANNOUNCES SUMMER 2011 CONTEST FEATURING WEEKLY GIVEAWAYS AND GRAND PRIZE TRIPS

--The Four Atlantic Canada Provinces Offer Chances to Win Golf Gear and Golf Trips, to Residents of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania--

Golf Coastal Canada (www.golfcoastalcanada.com), a consortium of golf destinations along Canada’s Atlantic seaboard – New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, announces their online Summer 2011 Contest. Residents of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania can enter to win weekly golf gear prizes, or one of Golf Coastal Canada’s three Grand Prizes, with golf trips to the Atlantic Canada provinces.

Golf Coastal Canada wants to bring the Atlantic Canada golf experience to life for residents of this tri-state area. Beginning June 20^th through August 17^th, 2011, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania residents can enter Golf Coastal Canada’s Summer Contest by clicking on the contest icon at: www.GolfCoastalCanada.com. 

Weekly prizes include a dozen Titleist golf balls and Atlantic Canada ball caps. The Three Grand Prizes include a golf trip for two people to one of the Atlantic Canada provinces. Each Grand Prize trip includes three nights accommodations, a package of four rounds of golf and a power cart for two.

*****

The Atlantic Canada provinces boast some of the best golf in the world – in 2011 Prince Edward Island received the prestigious “Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year” Award from the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).  

Departures Magazine named Golf Cape Breton, on the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia, one of “The World’s Best Golf Destinations” in its March/April 2011 issue. In addition, both Newfoundland & Labrador and New Brunswick offer several top-rated courses sprawled across breathtaking, rugged terrain. Now residents of the tri-state area have the chance to personally experience these courses, not to mention Atlantic Canada’s renowned local cuisine and culture.

*****

Rules and Regulations: 

This contest is intended for residents of the states of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania only. This excludes, without limitation, the state of Florida and all US territories and shall only be construed and evaluated according to United States law. You must be the age of majority in your state of residence or older to enter. You are not authorized to enter this promotion if you do not meet these criteria. Internet access required.

Grand Prize Trip Winners will be responsible for providing their own airfare, ground transportation, meals and other incidentals on their trips. Winners will be personally notified by email only. All prizes must be claimed before the expiry date of August 30, 2011. Prizes have no cash value and must be accepted as awarded with no substitutions. No cash substitutes, no exchanges, refunds or returns. An individual may only enter once per week during the promotion period.

About Golf Coastal Canada

Golf Coastal Canada (www.golfcoastalcanada.com) is the golf consortium representing the four provinces that make up the Atlantic Coast of Canada - Golf New Brunswick (www.golfnb.com), Golf Newfoundland & Labrador (www.golfnl.ca), Golf Nova Scotia (www.golfnovascotia.com) and Golf Prince Edward Island (www.golfpei.com). Each of these four destinations has its own signature offerings, including top-rate accommodations, local cuisine and culture and, of course, a wide variety of courses for different levels of play.

Join Stacy and Barry next week on Twitter @Golf4Beginners, Facebook and Golf for Beginners blog as they share their Canada golf vacation in Fredericton and St. Andrews, New Brunswick! 

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Larry David and his Acceptance of Fore in his golf game

Research shows that about twenty percent of all golfers regularly score better than ninety for eighteen holes on a regulation length golf course; on a course rated seventy-two, that score translates into an eighteen handicap.

Enter the trials and tribulations of Larry David, who, in the current issue of The New Yorker Magazine, discusses the stages of his golf game which led from anger to denial and finally to his acceptance of the word 'fore'.

It's amazing how even the most jocular sorts turn dead serious when discussing their golf game and have even injected golf into their "schtick".

Ray Romano's character in "Men of A Certain Age" is a scratch golfer attempting to gain entrance to the Senior Tour. Larry David, ever the sad-sack golfer in "Curb Your Enthusiasm", enlightens readers in this article as to why he should probably never again play golf at Riviera Country Club.

Both comedians love the sport and both are relatively good golfers: Romano's handicap (12.6) and David's handicap (13.6) fluctuate but are within a few strokes of each other. The difference is the way each celebrity golfer approaches the game.

Romano practices regularly and has even engaged the services of Hank Haney in order to try and break eighty. On the other hand, although Larry David (with a bit of help) could perhaps one-day become a single-digit handicapper, he has chosen to accept his shortcomings maintaining, "I’ll never be good. It’s just not something I’m suited for. That’s O.K."

What irks me is how Larry David habitually belittles his ability, "golf is just a hobby I stink at", when the average guy can barely break 100!

Curb Your Enthusiasm Larry...

photo credit: Larry David on Myspace


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Without Tiger Woods can American golfers rally at The Open?

The latest headlines read, "Tiger Woods out of AT&T National". Notah Begay has postponed his charity event until the former number one recovers and is now suggesting that Woods may also step away from the British Open. Although American PGA Tour golfers, without Tiger Woods in the field, are winning their share of weekly events, they have handed over the last five majors to European Tour golfers, leaving American "grinders" shaking their heads in disbelief.

PGA Tour golfers like Nick Watney are fed up and tired with their sub-par level of play, saying that it's time for Americans "to step up.”

Scott Verplank, being "very honest and very American" plainly stated, "It’s just that Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and those guys are playing better than us.”

Even Steve Stricker is disappointed with his inability to win majors, stating after the 2011 U.S. Open, "These major championships are kind of new to me. I’m going in with kind of low expectations." 

With Stricker (etal) not expecting to mount much of a contest, he surely won't.

Without Tiger Woods in the field challenging the level of play, the PGA Tour is undergoing major restructuring, stating on their website, "nearly one-third of 2011 TOUR winners are first-timers."

Has the lack of one popular (almost super-human) golfer, the level of play and the sport itself been depleted as Ed Berliner states, "falling in popularity behind billiards, MMA, and the Wii version of "Duke Nukem: Guns & Gusto at Augusta”? If so, are Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy the only golfers who can save it?

Fans need a hero who can delight and excite the crowd...and they want to cheer on a "likeable guy".

Being "very American" myself, allow me to mention two players who have made waves in golf this weekend.

Nineteen-year-old Patrick Cantlay took low amateur honors at the 2011 U.S. Open and shot a course record of 60 during the Travelers Championship, the lowest round ever for an amateur on the PGA Tour. He's young, collegiate and the future of the sport.

Nationwide Tour golfer Eric Compton, has overcome two heart transplants to win this week's Mexico Open. Enough said, as this golfer already has the fans "hearts."

The Americans are out there grinding (even if a Swede did win this week), as a group they just have to band together, raise their collective expectations, step out of the shadow of Tiger Woods and prove their mettle. New faces are constantly emerging: whether it be from the PGA Tour or European Tour, one golfer will eventually come forward to take over where Tiger Woods left off: it has happened before, it will happen again.

Having said that, golf is becoming more of a global sport with each event won on either side of the pond. Many European Tour golfers have studied/bought property, played golf in the U.S.A. and conversely, PGA Tour players like Mickelson have shown up to play in events such as the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. Fans should cheer their favorite player (as they did with Tiger Woods) and not where he or she heralds from in order to get the most out of the game.

But, since fans still 'root for the home team', will an American PGA Tour golfer playing in The Open capture the Claret Jug and end the drought? If so, will his name be quoted in numerous articles as the next Tiger Woods?


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