Parliamentary Golf Group welcomes return of The Open to Kent

The All-Party Parliamentary Golf Group has welcomed the announcement that The Open will return to Royal St George’s in 2020.

It was announced earlier this week that the tournament will return to the historic Kent links for the 15th time. Royal St George’s first hosted The Open in 1894, the first time the Championship was hosted outside of Scotland, and its most recent staging was in 2011 when Darren Clarke lifted the Claret Jug.

Significant transport improvements are required before the tournament takes place to allow spectators access to Royal St George’s, and the Group has worked closely with The R&A, Network Rail, Dover District Council and Kent County Council, as well as local MPs, to ensure that these are made.

Speaking after the announcement, Group Co-Chairman and Member of Parliament for Lincoln, Karl M^cCartney MP, said “The Open is one of the largest sporting events to be held in the United Kingdom, and always provides fantastic entertainment. The Group has worked closely with those involved in the return of The Open to Royal St George’s, to ensure that the required transport infrastructure improvements are completed in time for 2020 and that as many spectators, and particularly young people, as possible are able to enjoy the action.”

Member of Parliament for South Thanet, Craig Mackinlay MP, added “I am delighted that The Open is returning to Royal St George’s in 2020, and thankful to the Parliamentary Golf Group for their assistance in ensuring the necessary transport infrastructure improvements will be made. When the tournament was last staged in Kent in 2011, the benefits to the local economy were huge, and I am sure that the 2020 Championship will deliver an even greater boost to the local economy, as well as a fantastic showcase of golf.”