International visitors vote St Andrews a winner
With The Open reaching its climax on the Old Course at the weekend, many of the thousands of visitors who moved into the small corner of Fife over its four-day run are already on their way home — but what is the legacy left by the greatest championship in the world?
The Open flies the flag for St Andrews and Scotland as a visitor destination.
- By Craig McManamon
- Published in the Courier : 19.07.10
- Published online : 19.07.10 @ 11.23am
Weeks before the first competitive ball was even struck, much talk had been made on the projected financial boost the town, and Scotland, could expect.
In the R&A's initial estimate, over £70 million had been forecast, but just last week on the opening day of play First Minister Alex Salmond increased this to £80m based on findings at the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University.
And there was evidence of the boost on the streets of St Andrews over the weekend.
Businessman and director of Fisher & Donaldson Eric Milne has witnessed a number of championships pass through the town where he has two premises.
Although the tournament can have a varying impact on trade year to year, Mr Milne believes the 2010 tournament will be remembered fondly.
"It has been really busy," he said. "I think the bad weather earlier in the week helped with that because it made people come into the town.
"When the Open is on day visitors can avoid the town but we have tens of thousands of people in St Andrews who would not ordinarily be here, so one balances out the other," he said.
Ben LeBerthon (39) is one of the thousands of overseas visitors who travelled for the first time.
Mr LeBerthon, from north California, flew over with a group of friends to soak up the atmosphere and the Open, but his experience has had a big impact on the American, who now plans to return with his family.
"St Andrews is absolutely charming and the people we have met have been fantastic," he said.
Wonderful
"The Open has been great. I have been to other major tournaments and St Andrews is up there."
Fellow golfer Bert Van Linder (63) travelled from the Netherlands and has not been disappointed by the experience.
"The atmosphere, the golf, everything has been wonderful," he said. "St Andrews is a typical student town but has beautiful historic buildings. I enjoy it a lot."
A mixed bag of weather hit the championship this year but that is all part of the charm of links golf according to resident Liz Hilton, a member at the Old Course.
"The Open is going strong and St Andrews is benefiting from that which is particularly good during the difficult economy," she said.
"The image provided during the early stages of the tournament with ‘dreich' Scottish weather can give the wrong impression but a few sunny spells later and all is forgotten."
10.57am - 20.07.2010 Hazelkaye - Glasgow, Glasgow Report This
If only St Andrew had its railway!
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