Our Ideal Canadian Open Rota

With the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey this week it has us thinking about where our national championship should be hosted in the future.

No doubt, Glen Abbey has its critics and some feel that this year should be the last Open played there. I am not the biggest fan of the golf course but I can appreciate the history that has been made at 'The Abbey' and it still holds up well to today's game, provided they can get the course playing fast and firm (not easy at this time of year). It's also worth noting that the course was Jack Nicklaus' first solo design and he did it while still in the prime of his career. From a fan point of view, there are few better courses to watch golf with the numerous amphitheatre green settings. Glen Abbey should be on the rota to host the Canadian Open.

St. George's is far from ideal from a logistics standpoint...middle of the city, tight property, etc, but the golf course is outstanding and deserves to be on the rota. Rain left the golf course defenceless a few years ago but if the greens are firm and fast it could be a fantastic test of golf.

Same deal for Hamilton...great classic course that the pros love.

Other Ontario courses deserving of consideration for the rota include Westmount (Kitchener/Waterloo), Eagles Nest (Vaughn), Coppinwood (Uxbridge) and Beacon Hall (Aurora).

Out west, Shaughnessy has proven to be a player favourite and stern test with its small, sloping greens. I do think they went a little overboard with the rough last time out.

In Quebec, Royal Montreal - Blue is a no-brainer. One can argue the merits of the recent Rees Jones renovation but it has certainly made the golf course difficult and, for better or worse, the type of course many PGA pros enjoy playing. The history of the club (oldest in North America) plays an important role in its prominence in Canadian golf.

It's been heavily rumoured that Laval sur le Lac - Blue will host the Open in 2017. The course was rebuilt by Mike Weir and Ian Andrew and by all indications is a wonderful course suitable for both members and championship golf. We'll have to reserve judgement as to whether it deserves to be a permanent fixture on the rota.

In the 'We Can Dream' catagory there are a few courses that are world class but perhaps don't have the length to properly test the pros, or are located in remote areas of the country.

Toronto Golf Club - A timeless Harry Colt classic that is reminiscent of the heathland courses west of London, England. For good amateurs it is a stern test at par 70, but would it hold up to the modern game? I say firm the greens up, grow the rough a bit and let them have at it. If the USGA can do it at Merion then Golf Canada should be able to do it at TGC.

Highlands Links - Stanley Thompson's masterpiece in beautiful Cape Breton. There are few better walks in the game and it is a 10/10 on the fun scale. How great would it be to see Bubba Watson carving a big hook off the 2nd tee trying to run the ball down to the green. Maybe they can play the Canadian Open as Match Play that year.

Cabot Links - Canada's only true links course, the pros could go right from the links at the 'British' Open to the links of Canada.

We're lucky to have so many great courses in Canada, it's too bad our national championship can't find its way to all of them. Let's hope Golf Canada finds a way to 'spread the love' around a bit.