2018 Ryder Cup Bidding Commences; Euro Tour Still Demanding A Ninth Hole Returning Somewhere Close To The Clubhouse

...And a whole lot of money.

Mark Garrod reports that the demanding, inten$ive and wide-reaching $earch to find an appropriate 2018 Ryder Cup venue has begun. And bidders, please make sure that 9th comes somewhere close to the clubhouse.

Six countries - France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden - have announced their intention to bid for the 2018 Ryder Cup.

The deadline for the submission of bids is the end of April next year, with the announcement expected in 2011.

Celtic Manor in Wales plays host next year, and the 2014 contest is at Gleneagles in Scotland. But when both were selected it was decided that after that the European home match would return to the continent if suitable venues could be found.

No Dubai? Perhaps the pushback on that little floated idea wasn't what they hoped for?

Comments

[The O]

Can someone explain to me why having 9 come back the clubhouse is at all necessary for an event with only 24 players and all the matches go off the first tee? Its helpful for a full field Tour event, but not so much for the Ryder Cup.

[McStumpy]

I think the point is that nobody can explain that one - it defies all sense of logic.

Geoff, you are so cynical - obviously the country and course chosen will be based purely on golfing reasons - great fans, great course. Don't you dare suggest that econpmics will play any part in this.

IMHO - Sweden should get the nod, given their RC contribution. Barseback looks a decentish course?

[Hawkeye]

Thanks for the support for my area, McStumpy, but while a Ryder Cup here in southern Sweden would be a huge success attendance-wise, I'm not really rooting for it to happen. The weather in late September is usually a chilly wind-and-rain affair, and there isn't enough daylight to accomodate two sets of snails-pace matches on Friday and Saturday. And while Barsebäck overall is a good golf course, the last six holes are rather unimaginative pine-forest carve-outs a´la Spyglass that are unlikely to produce any compelling match-play situations. Plus, the ninth hole is way down the hill, by the shore of the Sound of Denmark...

[Buck]

The 9th hole requirement avoids the really good courses over there.

[Hawkeye]

Not Muirfield!