A beautiful beast

Shaughnessy a hit with players

By: Chris Johnston Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Wednesday, Jul. 20, 2011

The players got what they wanted with the RBC Canadian Open returning to Vancouver's Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club this week.

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The players got what they wanted with the RBC Canadian Open returning to Vancouver's Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club this week.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/07/2011 (5474 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The players got what they wanted with the RBC Canadian Open returning to Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club this week.

The tree-lined layout with breathtaking views of the Strait of Georgia is almost universally loved by touring pros, many of whom consider it the top course in Canada.

“It’s actually got players talking on Tour, which is kind of cool,” Englishman Paul Casey said in a recent interview. “I think RBC is on to something by taking (the tournament) around Canada to the best golf courses they can find. Word on the street is it’s just tough and long and big trees and beautiful — a ball striker’s golf course, which is nice.”

Mark van Manen / postmedia news service
Big John Daly slashes a shot out of the rough on the fifth hole during practice Tuesday at Shaughnessy. — Mark van Manen / postmedia news service Big John Daly slashes a shot out of the rough on the fifth hole during practice Tuesday at Shaughnessy.

If 2005 is any indication of the test that awaits starting Thursday, some of the players might want to be careful what they wish for.

The last time the third oldest national championship in golf was staged at Shaughnessy, Mark Calcavecchia won despite making just one birdie over the final two rounds. He finished with a score of 5-under 275 at the end of an extremely tough four days.

“A golf course like this, you can play one great round, maybe two, but you’re sure as hell not going to beat it four days in a row,” Calcavecchia said after lifting the trophy in 2005. “Thank God we ran out of holes.”

“It’s probably one of the best golf courses we’re going to play all year, we’ve played all year,” Vijay Singh said then.

The popular venue is one of the main reasons tournament organizers have been able to draw a strong field despite the fact it’s being held more than 7,000 kilometres away from last week’s British Open.

World No. 1 Luke Donald, Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk and Casey are among the golfers that took Golf Canada’s charter for the trip from England

They arrived at a venue that could be every bit as demanding as what they face at a major championship. The thick rough and small greens at Shaughnessy put a premium on shotmaking and penalize sloppy play.

— The Canadian Press