In the first of a four-part series, we caught up with Royal Troon’s Club Secretary Stephen Anthony after the 2024 Open to get his reflections on the event.
How pleased were you with how things went at this year’s Open?
The main aspect of an Open is the Championship itself. That, according to all quarters, was a great success. However, from the club’s perspective it was agreed by all that we presented a course befitting an Open Championship and just as important to the club was the service we provided our members and their guests, which was exceptionally well received. If you compare 2016, which was an excellent Open, and 2024, maybe apart from the final round and the duel of the ‘Sons’, 2024 was even more successful, so yes I was very pleased with how things went.
What sort of feedback did you receive from stakeholders and spectators?
We have received nothing but praise and thanks for our part in putting on a first-class Open.
From a Championship perspective, The R&A was delighted with the course and support that we gave them. The players gave the course high praise for its condition and set up, but not so much the difficulty or the weather on the Saturday.
We are still receiving positive and thank you e-mails, calls and letters from members, their guests and all who were invited into the clubhouse.
As regards the fans, I have heard nothing but good words said albeit I have heard that one or two were not best pleased at the £7.50 cost of a pint and some were concerned about the number of fans visiting each day.
The locals fall into three categories: Those that embrace The Open, those who while not being golfing fans accept it for what it is and get on with it, and those who would rather it wasn’t held at Royal Troon due to the disruption they consider it causes, but thankfully those were few and far between.
Having been in your role when Royal Troon hosted in 2016, was it easier this time around?
Being here for 2016 had its advantages but also its disadvantages. The biggest advantage was having prior knowledge of what to expect and when to expect it. However, the disadvantage was the change in the scale of things so the answer to the question is no, it was not easier for me this time around.
The answer I gave to all who asked me this question in the run up to and during The Open was that 2024 was like 2016 on steroids.
What did I mean by that?
In essence the demands on the club were far in excess of those made in 2016. The infrastructure installed by The R&A was more and larger than in 2016, the numbers attending increased by around 100,000 from 160,000 to nearly 260,000, so the scale of things was so much bigger. What we provided Members in the clubhouse was levels above that provided in 2016.
Were you able to enjoy the championship once play gets under way or is it still work, work, work?
I had all the intention of seeing a lot more of the golf this Open than I did of the 2016 Open. Did that happen? Well, not really but, was I able to enjoy the Championship, yes.
It was great to stand on the tee for the first tee time early on the Thursday morning with past champions at Troon. Likewise, to meet many of the current golfing greats and seeing the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose to name but a few teeing off was something few will ever see so it was not all work, work, work.
What was the highlight for you?
Some would think that standing in camera shot on the green for the presentation to the Champion Golfer of the Year would be the highlight, but for me that came nowhere near the top. My top three highlights in order were:
Firstly, seeing the smiling faces of members and their guests enjoying themselves. This is what all who do this job work for and is to me what the job is all about day to day. I know that as the saying goes, ‘You can’t please all of the people all of the time’, but seeing 98% of those in the clubhouse happy meant a lot to me.
Secondly, seeing the staff on the course and in the clubhouse not only performing their duties well but also enjoying themselves in doing so. Yes, it was long tiring hours but was well worth it. As in 2016, I was again able to get the winner, Xander Schauffele, to come into the clubhouse with the Claret Jug for a group photograph with the staff. This will sit well with the one taken with Henrik Stenson in 2016.
Lastly, and probably selfishly, it was having many of the family here with me, not that I saw them much, and having a photograph taken with my three sons and two grandsons in front of one of The Open scoreboards.
