Open Week is always important.
Sporting gatherings of like-minded people are always important and play a vital role in the fabric of any society. It's an opportunity for competitors, supporters, and administrators to come together and embrace what they love as a form of escapism from the real world. Many sports have various ways of describing the aforementioned gatherings; the GAA has its championship, it's all about the league (as Brian Clough once said) in football and the Americans seem to be happy enough with a World Series finale, especially for unique sports that are only played at the highest level Stateside. The Open Week is special for golfers as it clearly outlines our intention to commit to a particular event even though play only begins on a Thursday. The term of course is very familiar to Irish amateur golfers as a club's Open Week is probably among the primary dates entered in the new calendar every January just after the President's Prize, the Lady Captain's Day, the Gent's Captain's Day, and the sacred Winter League.
The term was nearly lost during the Celtic Tiger when several clubs began to get notions about their standing in the local sporting community, probably got involved with the horsey crowd, and went with a "Festival of Golf" campaign before copping on to themselves and returning to their roots. On a serious note, however, the success or failure of a club's Open Week can have far-reaching financial effects and in some cases will play a vital role in the following year's budget proposals. Members must play an ambassadorial role before and during Open Week by aggressively supporting the efforts of the competition committee. With daily competitions, members have no excuse in supporting these midweek events where their competition fees are minimal. They should also actively bring any posters to their workplace or neighbouring clubs encouraging golfers from around the locality to visit the club during Open Week. Members also have a duty to invite non-members in making up a fourball on at least one occasion where they can outline the benefits of their home club and hopefully cement new golf society business.
My tone may be quite serious this week but specifically about parkland courses, the financial aspect is especially important. A successful Open Week can increase the budget for marketing, a unique dilemma as it seems Bord Failte is only interested in advising tourists about our links offering and our marquee parkland destinations. One would have thought that as these venues are easily making eye-watering green fee revenue, they might be able to look after their own marketing expenses but that discussion is for another time. Troon had its Open Week finish last Sunday night with the X-man named as the Champion Golfer of the Year. An unusual Major season for Irish golf with both McIlroy and Lowry grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory in both respective Open.
