"We have heard time and time again from the players that the quality of the golf course is key to players choosing to play in a golf tournament," said Royal Canadian Golf Association CEO Scott Simmons in his opening remarks at a very critical RCGA press conference this morning.

Naming a venue for a PGA Tour event would seem to be a very small story for most golfers outside of Canadian borders but, for the players who make a living on the world's top professional golf tour, it a key to having them want to play in the world's third oldest golf championship.

The announcement today that historic St. George's Golf & Country Club in Toronto will be the host course for the 2010 RBC Canadian Open is amazing news for a tournament that has been on the upswing of late. Despite a date squeezed between a World Golf Championship and the British Open, a new major sponsor in the form of RBC and the return to storied golf layouts like St. George's bodes well for the future of Canada's only PGA Tour event.

"We have been on a journey of renewal," said RCGA President Andrew Cook at the press event. "We want the tournament to get back to the stature it once held on the world stage."

PGA Tour officials have visited the site at St. George's several times and few changes will be necessary for the tour to play the course. At just over 7,000 yards and playing to a par of 70 it will evoke the feel of venerable US Open layouts. "It is a very strong layout," says Tournament Director Bill Paul.

Designed by Stanley Thompson and opened in 1929, the Royal York Golf Club was planned as a weekend retreat for guests of the Royal York Hotel. It was renamed St. George's in 1946 after severing ties with the Royal York. It is consistently rated within the top 3 courses in Canada and within the top 100 in the World. In 2002 is received an extensive restoration of the bunkers at the hands of Ian Andrew - a master at the craft.

St. George's has hosted four previous Canadian Opens (the tournament began in 1904) starting with the 1933 tournament. It last held the event in 1968 when Bob Charles took the title.

Today's announcement looks to be the a great start for the RCGA and their plans to create a defined rota for the tournament. With past tournaments held at the historic Shaughnessy Golf Club and the Hamilton Golf & Country Club, the hope is that an established rotation at top ranked traditional golf clubs will only fan the desire by top PGA Tour players to play in the Canadian Open.

Tournament Director Bill Paul spoke with several players this week in Michigan at the Buick Open and he says their response to the news that St. George's would be hosting in '10 was unanimous. "They told me that if you start to play those kind of golf course, no matter the date you have, you will get players to come."

This is a great step in the process of making Canada's National Championship prominent once again. www.flagstickeditorsdesk.blogspot.com

That is definitely good news. Now, we just need the rotation to include Manitoba!

God Bless
Jer

what the hell I move to toronto from montreal and its held in montreal, i move to vancouver its held in toronto, i move back to toronto its held in vancouver, now i move back to vancouver and its held in toronto.

I heard Cottonwood might be in the rotation - lol

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to play St. George's G&CC about four years ago. A fantastic course with difficult sloping greens. Some of the fastest greens I had ever played that required you to stay below the hole at all times.

They will have to convert a few of the par fives to fours but all of the par threes are challenging. If the weather cooperates and the course remains firm, it will be a stern test. It should be a great championship!

The Tour needs to give this historic Open a more favorable spot in the schedule and the sponsor needs to continue to rotate it amongst the best that Canada has to offer, including the East Coast.

well maybe if it had a good spot in the schedule, rather than the week after the british it might not be a 2nd tier event again.

LOL at any course in Manitoba hosting the tourney