Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

150th Open Championship

13 July 2022 · 4 other contributors · 9,274 words

Opened by Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife

Responding minister: Nigel Huddleston

EconomyTransportCulture, Media & Sport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Wendy Chamberlain raised concerns about 150th open championship in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The hon. Member is concerned about the historical and cultural significance of the 150th Open Championship and its economic impact on local businesses in St Andrews, North East Fife.
  • The hon. Member calls for closer engagement with local communities regarding future events and improved support for sectors within hospitality tourism affected by the pandemic.
  • The minister highlights the significant economic impact of the 150th Open Championship, expecting 290,000 fans and an estimated 200 million in revenue for St Andrews and Scotland.

Key requests to Government

The hon. Member calls for closer engagement with local communities regarding future events and improved support for specific sectors within hospitality tourism that were affected by the pandemic.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife

The hon. Member is concerned about the historical and cultural significance of the 150th Open Championship taking place in St Andrews, North East Fife, highlighting events like the Celebration of Champions exhibition match and the honorary citizenship event for Jack Nicklaus. She also mentions the economic impact on local businesses and the importance of public access to golf courses. However, she acknowledges issues such as train strikes affecting travel and community concerns over tourism.

Other contributors (4)
  • Gavin Newlands SNP Paisley and Renfrewshire North

    Welcomed the debate and highlighted the importance of golf in Scotland, noting that St Andrews is home to the game. Mentioned the growth in participation despite challenges during the pandemic. Emphasised the historical significance of Scottish courses like Musselburgh Old Course and Muirfield. Acknowledged current issues such as the ownership of Turnberry and perceptions of golf being a middle-class sport. Corrected the record on affordability at Royal Barshaw golf course in Paisley, stating that it costs £10 but only £5 for unemployed individuals, children, and over-65s.

  • Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington

    Jeff Smith highlighted the economic benefits of hosting major sporting events such as the Open Championship at St Andrews. He noted that last year's event brought a £113 million boost to Kent and generated an additional £94 million in gross advertising revenue. This year, with expected attendance reaching 290,000 fans and over 1.3 million ticket requests, the economic impact could be even greater for Fife. However, Smith expressed concern about ScotRail's cuts and a temporary timetable causing transportation issues, especially given that St Andrews is expecting 250,000 visitors to the event. He also pointed out the challenges faced by Scotland's tourism sector due to pandemic restrictions and called for a new national plan for recovery.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Apologised for being late and emphasised the importance of golf across all regions of the United Kingdom, particularly in Northern Ireland. Highlighted local council support for the PGA EuroPro Tour and mentioned star players like Rory McIlroy. Golf has been a significant source of mental, social and emotional wellbeing during the pandemic. It served as a release valve for many people.

  • Margaret Greenwood Lab Wirral West

    Acknowledges the hon. Lady's speech and highlights the economic benefit of £76.3 million when the Open was last in Hoylake, praising local businesses for their contribution and emphasizing the importance of showcasing Wirral to a global audience.

Government Response

Nigel Huddleston

I congratulate Wendy Chamberlain on securing the debate and on her compelling, passionate contribution. Golf has a long heritage in this country with the Open championship first played in 1860 at Prestwick in Scotland. The minister highlights the significant economic impact of golf across the UK, particularly noting that the 150th Open Championship will see record-breaking 290,000 fans attend and generate an estimated £200 million for St Andrews and Scotland. He also praises golf's efforts to become more inclusive and accessible for all players, especially women's golf and disability golf. The minister calls on broadcasters to showcase golf broadly on television as it inspires participation and supports elite-level athletes. Furthermore, he appeals to stakeholders, including unions, not to target sport events like the train strikes that could impact attendance and enjoyment for hundreds of thousands of people looking forward to these events.

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