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Good ol' Carnoustie

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Posted: Saturday July 17, 1999 04:02 PM

CARNOUSITE, Scotland (CNN/SI) -- There was a good old-fashioned brawl here last night on the main street of town and although the local Chamber of Commerce vehemently denies it's sponsorship, one of the pugs was heard to say in a thick brogue as he rolled dangerously close to the wheels of a passing Peugeot:

"This is Carnoustie Country! Y'all come back now, y'heah?"

Friday Night at the Fights has provided just about the only applaudable action here this week, short of the broadsides launched against the course and its setup for the 128th British Open Championship.

They have labored long and furiously this past quarter-century to lure the Open back here. Renovating the grand old track itself was but a minor task, installing a few bunkers here and there, narrowing the fairways to the width of Tiger's waistline, not much more. Building the huge hotel on the grounds was surely the deciding step -- and they were still screwing in the showerheads as the players were checking in.

And thus, ta-da! "Carnoustie Country", a very bold and calculated campaign to not only land the Open again and all of its attending fortunes but keep it in the historied rotation with St Andrews, Troon, Birkdale, Turnberry and only a few others where, indeed, it should be.

The men behind "Carnoustie Country" have even begun what they claim to be the first club of any championship venue to offer international membership. Think of it. Five thousand pounds initiation fee and 500 pounds a year dues and you, too can play here as a card-carrying member. Or, for the price of a pack of razor blades, slit your wrists.

For while their intentions in making over the grand old course are certainly laudable, the extent has become excruciating, turning the Open into a four-day house of horrors (more, for those who will still be somewhere waist-deep in rough trying to find their caddies come Monday). It has become a bit like selling seats on the Poseidon, nice at the dock, doomed from full steam.

Their desires, jointly with the Royal and Ancient, were to make what was already one of the world's most difficult courses nearly impossible. And if it is that for the best players in the world, imagine the thrill of playing it once a week as a member!

"The average player," said this week's poster boy for doom, David Duval, "would quit."

In fact, there is history to just that with far-above average players. A very important Scottish match-play event was held here years ago and the championship final became so unbearable, so unplayable, that instead of playing out, they flipped a coin to decide the winner.

And that was "Carnoustie Country" pre-renovation.

Y'all come back? After this, it's likely going to be a much better-contested fight than the one on Main Street last night.

 

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