Travel Is The Only Concern About Shaughnessy

As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, playing in the 2009 RBC Canadian Open was one of the most cherished experiences of my life and I hope to make it back there one day. It would be extra sweet if I could play in my own backyard in 2011 at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver.

It’s a great, old-style golf course that most players love. They can pinch in the fairways and I remember when the Open was here in 2005, they had really long, penal rough. There are small greens out there. It’s a shotmaker’s golf course and a lot of players enjoy that.

The city itself offers a lot of things to do and I’m sure the organizing committee will do something spectacular for the wives who are there, so considering the golf course and the city, Vancouver is a great place for a PGA Tour event.

It’s just a matter of timing with the 2011 Open still right behind the British Open.

I’m assuming there will be a charter back from the British Open for the players. I’m not sure what the plans are for that, but the trip is an extra five hours from the United Kingdom, compared to Toronto.

That could potentially have an impact and, obviously, we hope it doesn’t. I hope there’s something that can be done, so that travel isn’t an obstacle to drawing the best field possible.

Many of the players who were here in 2005 seemed to really enjoy not only the golf course, but the city. Our weather in July is typically fantastic – as I write this, it’s 22-23 C, with just a light breeze and not a lot of humidity, so it’s very pleasant.

Scott Dickson, the director of golf at Shaughnessy, the membership and David Wood, the general manager, have been working hard for years and they’re looking forward to it.

I have all the faith in the world that the 2011 Open at Shaughnessy is going to be an outstanding event.

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