"Why else would the Ryder Cup, one of the biggest events in golf and sports in general, be missing from the West Coast since 1959?"

Larry Bohannan fires off a nice rant about the PGA of America's disdain for the western United States when it comes to selecting PGA and Ryder Cup venues.

We can all scream about an East Coast bias from an organization that is based in Florida. We can scream about making an event better for television times in Europe event even if the event is being played in the United States. But none of that is a reasonable explanation for why the PGA of America has abandoned the West Coast. Or why the Ryder Cup can’t possible come back to the West Coast before 2022.

The next three Ryder Cups in the U.S. have already been awarded to courses in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. It’s as if the PGA considers the West Coast to still be unsettled, or that maybe we out west are not part of the United States. I’m pretty sure California joined the union back in 1850, which seems like the last time the Ryder Cup was played in the state.

Comments

[Chamber Made]

The Ryder Cup at PGA West's Stadium Course would be an excellent venue.

[Phil the Author]

"Or why the Ryder Cup can’t possible come back to the West Coast before 2022."

Larry, ios that the west coast in Ireland or Scotland you're talking about? Because unless the U.S. team is on THAT side of the bond in 2022 no Ryder Cup will be played that year...

It's 2024...

[Hacker]

Umm...maybe because it would be on TV in the middle of the night in Europe? They're kind of interested in this event and might want to see it live.

[themerk]

Wow finally someone else is going to take a shot at another golf organization about their selection process. I would ask the PGA why the hell they keep picking Whistling Straits as a venue for their events every 5 years. I love the idea of west coast golf, its better for TV in America and pardon me for the narcisism but when we play it the US lets think about what we can do to make it a US event; I wake up at 4am to watch the Open and I sure the Brits dont consider us when scheduling that event.

[heinz]

"Worried about European television times? Who cares. Does the R and A think about California television viewers when putting the British Open tee times together?" - "I wake up at 4am to watch the Open and I sure the Brits dont consider us when scheduling that event."
Wow! How rude are those R&A guys, living in only one timezone!

[Tom]

I think there is a difference between a Californian waking up at 4 AM on a weekend to catch the first tee shot from Scotland (Missed it? Who cares. There will be more.) and someone in Sweden or Germany staying up until 3 AM on a Monday morning to catch the deciding putts of the crucial last match from California.

[carnaptious and camsteerie]

Aye, ye cannae push yon "brand" in the middle of the night.

[Wisconsin Reader]

WTF . . . Don't these people complaining own HD DVR's? . . . Do they actually watch an entire Ryder Cup telecast - including the endless "up close and personal" segments about the players favorite pets and muscle cars? . . . Who in the United States cares when these exhibitions are on live? . . . It's football season. . .

Dare I guess that this matter is just another ploy by the "golf scribblers" to use sites adjacent to Ritz Carleton resorts? These Wisconsin locations are just terrifying them.

[cmoore]

When did Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota relocate to the East Coast?

[Oliver Chettle]

The Open Championship is played the only time it can be played. It runs all day on Thursday and Friday, and finished in the early evening on the Sunday. They have to allow time for rain delays or a playoff.

[jeff]

No better weather than Autumn in the Bay Area....Olympic would be an ideal Ryder Cup venue. Certainly a worthy course than the Belfry, and it would take an event that transcends golf to a fitting location. Riviera, Harding or even Torrey...

[David Mihm]

I dunno, Jeff, not sure I buy Olympic as a great Ryder Cup venue. US Open yes, Ryder Cup, maybe not. It's too dictatorial to be a great match play course, IMHO. Agree that it is more worthy than The Belfry--or WS or Valhalla!!!--though.

Riviera--in a second--and obviously LA North if the membership would go for it.

Pasatiempo in a dream scenario just to see all the birdies.

[Brad Ford]

What about Texas? A great state with a great golfing tradition that hasn't had a major in decades. September is outstanding in most parts of the states and it would be an ideal host of the event.

[Used to be Former S&T convert]

It is my understanding that a course has to "go after" the Ryder Cup, not the other way around. Could it be possible that top West Coast courses are not aggressively "going after" the Ryder Cup?

Personally, being an east coaster I love watching golf at night. If there is a football game of interest that would compete with the Ryder Cup, I have great confidence in my skill with the remote control/DVR combination.

[Bucky]

What about Bandon Dunes Resort? That area's logistics should be adequate by that date.

[jcg]

hey it was in portland, oregon in 1947.

[Seitz]

** When did Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota relocate to the East Coast? **

When you grow up in California, everything east of the Mississippi is the East Coast.

[d.b.cooper]

re Texas and the RC,

Colonial made a strong pitch for the RC sometime in the last 15-20 years as my aging memory vaguely recalls, but got beat out in the home stretch.

[d.b.cooper]

Agree with the sentiment that Olympic is too dictatorial for great match play.

[digsouth]

I am a native Texan, and we doan need no stinkin' Ryder Cup.

Let the East Coast branders fight over the tote sales.


digsouth

[The Q]

Riviera has gone hard for the President's Cup, since they think the Ryder Cup is out of reach since the PGA doesn't believe that the laid back Angelinos (of which I am one) would support the RC in sufficient numbers (i.e. attendance)

[jw]

LACC?

[jeff]

I don't disagree that Olympic isn't an ideal match play course, but SF/Bay Area would be a great place to host the Ryder Cup. So Cal as well. Is weather ever considered? and I am thinking of the US Open here as well (Bethpage Mudfest '09).
I agree that Pasatiempo or Cypress would be very cool, but that will not happen. What about the obvious...Pebble?
oh well, as Cyndi Lauper said "money changes everything"

[Steve]

jw...LACC is hosting the Walker Cup in 2017. The Walker Cup is the best event in golf...it is what the Ryder cup should be...not the overhyped, commercial event it has become. If you want to see a GREAT list of courses check out where the Walker Cup has been played over the last 80+ years:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walker_Cup

[Tighthead]

Did the Ryder Cup join the Big 10 as part of all that realignment this summer?

[Joel]

The last time it was on the West Coast was 1955 at Thunderbird and then 1959 at El Dorado, both in the Palm Springs area.

It's all about money and nobody West bribed Jim Autrey so he planned it out for 20 years.

[The O]

As a native Californian in exile on the East Coast, I say the West should focus on real events, not the older version of the Tavistock Cup.

[digsouth]

@ the O

We have a winner!!!

post of the week!

ds

[F. X. Flinn]

it's obvious it's about TV in Europe and nothing else

[Tilly]

SFGC would be ideal for players and fans