So in terms of value was the $50,000 prize in 1974 about the same as today’s $4.5 million or not ?? The real reason prize money in Golf has skyrocketed because Tiger Woods took the game mainstream before the Tiger era many people had little interest in golf back then but after watching him play and transforming opinions more and more people fell in love with the sport. Without Tiger, golf might have remained a niche game of draconian rules for the better off… to coin the phrase he really did ‘move the needle’ in every way ! What do you think ?

A group called Palestine Action has claimed responsibility for an attack overnight at the Open Championship host venue, which has seen its clubhouse smothered in red paint, greens dug up, and “GAZA IS NOT FOR SALE” daubed in three-metre high white lettering on the grass.

The property is, of course, owned by current US president Donald Trump,

In a statement, the group said the action was “a direct response to the US administration’s stated intent to ethnically cleanse Gaza.”

A spokesperson from Palestine Action added: “Palestine Action rejects Donald Trump’s treatment of Gaza as though it were his property to dispose of as he likes.

“To make that clear, we have shown him that his own property is not safe from acts of resistance. We will continue to take action against US-Israeli colonialism in the Palestinian homeland.”

A spokesperson for Trump Turnberry told the BBC: “This was a childish, criminal act but the incredible team at Trump Turnberry will ensure it does not impact business.

“Turnberry is a national treasure and will continue to be the number one beacon of luxury and excellence in the world of golf.”

The following pictures show the extent of the damage caused…

Palestine Action describes itself as a “direct-action network of groups and individuals operating to end complicity in occupation, apartheid, and genocide in Palestine”.

The principle target of its campaign, it says, is Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons company.

Donald Trump purchased Turnberry in 2014 and has since invested considerably in upgrading the resort. This has included a significant remodelling of several holes on the internationally-acclaimed Ailsa Course.

The latest changes to the layout – specifically, newly-designed seventh and eighth holes – are due to be unveiled next month.

Despite all this, the resort’s future as a host venue of the Open remains in limbo. It has staged the world’s oldest professional championship four times but not since 2009, when Stewart Cink defeated Tom Watson in a playoff.

Speaking to The Telegraph last week, Mark Darbon, the new chief executive of the R&A, said: “The position at the moment, in respect of Turnberry, is that we will not be taking events there until we’re comfortable that the whole dialogue will be about golf.

“That is a situation we’re still not comfortable with, but that could evolve in the coming years.”

It has long been a matter of when, not if, the Open will return to the famed East Lothian links, but Muirfield has been kept waiting a little longer after it was confirmed the 2027 Championship will go to St Andrews.

Mark Darbon, Slumbers’ successor, confirmed that after renewals at Royal Portrush in 2025 and Royal Birkdale in 2026, the 155th Open will return to the Old Course. It maintains the five-year cycle of the Open at St Andrews, with just one exception since 1990.

Muirfield, meanwhile, will now have to wait a minimum of 15 years to stage golf’s oldest major, with the 2028 venue yet to be announced. Phil Mickelson was the last Muirfield champion in 2013 and the course has serious Open pedigree having staged the battle for the Claret Jug on 15 other occasions.

Muirfield had been briefly struck from the rota in May 2016 after a vote by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers to allow women to become members failed, but was restored by the R&A ten months later when the same proposal was belatedly passed.

Yet while the AIG Women’s Open visited Muirfield in 2022, we’re still not exactly sure when the world’s best male players will next descend on the Gullane links.

That, of course, being Guy Kinnings, the DP World Tour chief executive. The Renaissance Club is scheduled to host the Scottish Open until 2026, but any future change in location would presumably also require input from the PGA Tour given the US-based circuit now co-sanctions the event.

It is unclear whether those conversations have taken place, or indeed whether Muirfield is next in line in the mind of new boss Darbon. But it does seem almost inconceivable that the third most used Open venue after St Andrews and Prestwick won’t make its return – at least before the decade is out.

According to a statement from the PGA Tour, Scheffler sustained a “puncture wound to the palm of his right hand from a broken glass”.

Small glass fragments reportedly remained lodged in his hand which required surgery.

Scheffler’s agent Blake Smith added: “He has been told he should be back to 100% in three to four weeks [but] unfortunately he will have to miss The Sentry.”

He is targeting a return to action at The American Express, taking place at La Quinta Country Club in California from January 16-19.

His festive misadventure completes a truly surreal year for Scheffler.

In addition to winning nine times, securing a second major title, landing Olympic gold, and becoming a father for the first time, he also endured the indignity of a peculiar arrest ahead of the second round of the PGA Championship in May.

Fortunately, that misunderstanding was swiftly handled, leaving Scheffler free to focus on becoming the first player since Tiger Woods to be named ‘Player of the Year’ in three consecutive years.

He also became the first golfer since Woods in 2009 to be ranked world No.1 for every week of the calendar year, and was part of the US team that won a tenth consecutive Presidents Cup.

As for The Sentry, the complete field for the season-opening tournament – taking place as usual on the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii – will be released later today, after the commitment deadline of 5pm ET.

By Michael McEwan - Bunkered

The St Andrews Links Trust has come in for criticism from locals over a perceived reduction in access to the town’s golf courses.

A group calling itself the St Andrews Resident Golfer Association has revealed the results of a survey it has carried out of golfers in the sport’s hometown, uncovering what it says are “several key issues” that have “negatively impacted on their golf experience on the links”.

More than 80% of the 100-plus respondents said that their experience has got worse or much worse in recent years, with access to the seven courses operated by the Trust of particular concern.

Around 90% of respondents feel that availability of tee times has got worse or much worse, whilst 80% of respondents expressed concern about the pace of play.

Over 90%, meanwhile, agree or strongly agree that the increased number of visitors has negatively impacted on the Links ticket-holder golf experience.

Comments received as part of the survey suggest that too much priority is given to visitors, particularly block advance bookings which “reduce tee time availability and clog up the courses”.

The findings have been shared with bunkered.co.uk on the eve of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which takes place on the Old Course this week.

It is the second high-profile event to be staged on the historic links in six weeks, following the AIG Women’s Open at the end fo August.

A spokesperson for the St Andrews Resident Golfer Association said: “The survey has delivered a clear message about how the residents of the town feel about how their golfing experience has deteriorated over recent years.

“Many of the underlying problems stem from increasing visitor rounds which since 2009 have gone up by more than 50% to 151,000.

“The town owns the links and the governing act which set up the trust recognised this mentioning residents as one of only three groups whose interests should be protected.

“The association hopes that the trust improve transparency and engage more with the local golfing community to identity solutions which will restore parity for residents of the town.“

Approached for comment by bunkered.co.uk, a spokesperson for St Andrews Links Trust said: “St Andrews Links is a global golf tourism destination and significant economic driver in St Andrews, Fife and across Scotland offering access to various groups in accordance with the Links Act and the Trust’s charitable mission to promote public participation in sport,” said the Links Trust spokesperson.

“In the last five years, both before and after the pandemic, we have seen a significant increase and unprecedented demand for our golf courses from both ticket holders and visitors, in line with global trends.

“The number of rounds played has risen at a similar rate for both ticket holders and visitors and there has been no decrease in the number of times available to ticket holders during this time.

“Earlier this year, we conducted an independent survey of our ticket holders, with more than 1,200 responses focusing on areas such as access to the golf courses. Nearly nine in 10 of those surveyed said their links ticket represented good value for money with the majority of courses receiving positive feedback for availability of access.”

The spokesperson did confirm that course access has been highlighted as an area of concern, with more dedicated ticket-holder times cited as the best way to deliver improvements.

However, they added that plans are already afoot to address that.

“In the past two years, we have created a Golf Access Group, dedicated to reviewing access methods and forecasting future demand at St Andrews Links. As part of those ongoing efforts, in April this year we were pleased to announce additional tee times for ticket holders, including an increase in 2024 and a substantial adjustment of more than 10,000 exclusive ticket holder tee times to improve access across our courses for the 2025 season.

“Ensuring fair access to the golf courses has always been and remains a top priority for the Trust. We will continue to monitor these changes and update ticket holders on their impact in due course.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

Just a matter of days after Hirsel Golf Club in the Borders announced its shock closure, Torrance Park in Motherwell has confirmed that it, too, is set to close.

A statement on the club’s website confirmed the news.

“For a significant period of time the Torrance Park Golf Club has been experiencing challenges to being able to run as a profitable business,” it stated. “Unfortunately, it has been loss-making for a number of years and has reached a point where this cannot continue.

“We have therefore undertaken a review in relation to the sustainability of the club, to look at whether or not it is viable to continue operating into the future.

“As a result of this review, in which we looked at all possible options, we have identified that there is no alternative other than the closure of the club and as such the golf club and clubhouse will close with effect from 1st October 2024.

The statement concluded: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers and former members for their support over the years.”

Opened in 2009, the course – which had links to former Rangers FC owner Sir David Murray – was originally designed by Dave Thomas, joining Spey Valley and Cardrona as the Scottish venues crafted by the renowned golf course architect.

It was reduced to nine holes in 2023 which led to several members resigning. bunkered.co.uk understands that the club pivoted from a membership model earlier this year to become a pay-and-play facility, forcing remaining members to find new clubs.

Last week, the Hirsel Golf Club was forced into bankruptcy due to increasing costs and declining membership.

September Golf Alloa Golf Club Alloa Pro Shop

An opportunity to join us on 24th August marking 60 years of golf at the Sconser venue on Isle of Skye Prize fund and event sponsored by #macleodandmaccallum

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldsbestgolfdestinations.com%2Fa-club-reborn-and-looking-forward-to-a-bright-future-newburgh-on-ythan%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2X2FmVgDeAHk624w-VOK6oJgwfrW82E9Zb2Gs4lhdljdy3Ko1iW7DLYok_aem_nQta2QrBkTPUV1Ia5FPnuw&h=AT0E42YNSvm4hyZa9OHTCBM6LjOHlrDlbRs7ZKGCJnSqF4C6RotOliG7blwBOj42rR0P1xx3lW6raN4thpN3tTe3HpTtunlnMtL_YVeYzeuHlyTaB_F9h9RHXxq18e2zPIYG&__tn__=%2CmH-y-R&c[0]=AT3Mp-mkYJPT0Msi-0feQ-88XXO2KKPiOYkGDaQO7gZ2kOrVhRczx2PiE7ZbATfKqEJwehWvo4dLAlBFOV9cRoy7IdO2oNQg2KnrpjQnJYoLgHR8x4OxBU7EJ19MHruaQisCkjdV-0848LxiilaIycfznnvTb0cQUVuxPT1bgLmtqbxplmA_Fvw2H-NytUuplGb4lHC-uaTeVoPCylFAhDzB0jgq_nvaRGlpe2GEhQukOedQ3qQVB6zCKeOO5hq32ZoHmY-eJiQbFofYcC5O9i8lAtjLw7Y

The course at Broomieknowe Golf Club is in brilliant condition- greens are super quick and consistent from 1st to 18th.

Just a small snippet of the auction tomorrow night at the clubhouse 7.30/8.00.. The opportunity to own an 18th green flag from the Canadian open signed by both Bob McIntyre and the best caddy in the world Dougie ( am only a grass cutter) McIntyre, bidding at the moment is £200 , if you want to bid let me know , we are expecting some big hits for this , first item signed by both ..