The Renaissance Club, the magnificent venue for the Genesis Scottish Open starting this Thursday, exudes a timeless beauty that is a hallmark of the great links courses in Britain. Located along the coast, the course boasts a lack of trees and an abundance of wind, rain, heat, and cold, which pose challenges for players. Its firm fairways can either reward a well-hit drive with additional distance or punish an equally well-struck shot with an unfavorable bounce. The course is adorned with high golden fescue grass that sways gracefully in the wind. The greens, subtly undulating in the center and strikingly on the edges, sport a charming brown-tinged color. And, of course, the deep bunkers are ready to consume any stray shots.
The Renaissance Club enjoys a prime location for golf enthusiasts. It is neighbors with Muirfield, the esteemed home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and a regular host of the British Open. Just down the road lies the North Berwick Golf Club, a historic venue that has been a golfing hub since 1832.
Although the Renaissance Club only opened its doors in 2007 and started hosting the Scottish Open five years ago, it quickly established itself as a prominent venue. Designed by the renowned architect Tom Doak, who was venturing into championship golf courses for the first time, the Renaissance Club provides a unique and engaging experience. Its recent renovation in 2014 opened up several holes, offering stunning views of the water.
So how did the Renaissance Club manage to secure hosting rights for a tournament of increasing importance? The transformation began in 2011 with a strategic decision to mimic the conditions of the British Open, which takes place just a few days later. The Scottish Open, which has had various sponsors and periods of hiatus over the past 50 years, sought to capture the imagination of tourists by partnering with Visit Scotland, the country’s tourist board. While Scotland boasts a diverse range of golf courses, it is the wind-swept, bouncy links courses that evoke the true essence of Scottish golf.
“We initiated a links strategy in 2011 and made the move from Loch Lomond to Castle Stuart,” explained Rory Colville, the championship director of the Genesis Scottish Open. “We believed it was in the best interest of the players to experience links golf in the week before the Open Championship. The economic impact of the first Scottish Open at Castle Stuart exceeded 5 million pounds, which is an incredibly positive outcome.”
Loch Lomond, which had hosted the tournament for over a decade, featured a parkland course with streams and trees that evoked a timeless feel. While it is globally regarded as one of the best courses, it lacked the quintessential Scottish golf experience.
In contrast, Castle Stuart, like the Renaissance Club, presents a modern layout that seamlessly integrates with the land. Designed by American architect Gil Hanse, known for his restoration work on courses like Los Angeles Country Club and Southern Hills, Castle Stuart was envisioned as a venue that exhibited wide vistas, firm fairways, and deep bunkers.
“Castle Stuart, despite being a relatively young course at the time, encompassed all the qualities one would desire from a new links course,” said Colville. “It offered a fair test of golf that was also appropriate as a warm-up to the Open. Players don’t want to be exhausted before a major championship. Castle Stuart provided the ideal golf course, combined with a stunning scenic backdrop to showcase golf to the world. Taking the Scottish Open to the Highlands was a gratifying experience, and it produced deserving champions like Luke Donald, Phil Mickelson, and Alex Noren.”
For several years, a rotational system was adopted, emulating the approach of the Open Championship. The Scottish Open took place at venues like Royal Aberdeen, Gullane, and Dundonald. Royal Aberdeen, in particular, left a lasting impression with notable performances from Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy, who went on to win the subsequent Open.
However, top players expressed reservations about the rotating venues before the official Open Championship schedule, as it meant having to learn a new course each year. Additionally, there were logistical and economic benefits to hosting the event at the same location, with infrastructure planning streamlined.
“At Loch Lomond, we built the event year after year,” recounted Colville. “We needed a permanent home to scale up the tournament. However, it’s challenging when you’re dealing with a member club that has a large number of members who don’t want disruptions to their regular golfing schedules caused by closures and interruptions.”
That’s where the Renaissance Club, established by the Sarvadi brothers, Jerry and Paul, stepped in. With Paul serving as the CEO of Insperity, a human resources company, and Jerry having a background in aviation fuel, the brothers were passionate about creating a lasting legacy through hosting the Open. Over the years, they have built essential infrastructure, such as dedicated TV compounds and parking facilities, making it feasible to hold the event consistently.
Furthermore, the Renaissance Club has welcomed improvements to the course. “Our agronomy team has closely collaborated with the club to enhance the conditions and refine the golf course,” Colville stated.
While Tom Doak, the course architect, declined to comment, his expertise lies in designing destination venues on remarkable plots of land worldwide. Notably, his courses at Barnbougle in Tasmania, Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand, and Pacific Dunes in Oregon have garnered critical acclaim. Tournament golf courses were not initially part of his portfolio. As he shared in a 2019 interview with the Golf Channel, “I never really thought I’d do tournament golf courses. It’s about getting inside the professionals’ minds by creating challenges that make them think and play more cautiously.”
Since the Renaissance Club’s renovation in 2014, Doak has been less involved in making year-to-year changes. Instead, the ownership group brought in renowned golfer Padraig Harrington, a three-time major champion and former Ryder Cup captain, to provide insights from a tournament player’s perspective.
“Bringing someone like Padraig, with his experience and expertise in links golf, has been invaluable in refining and improving the golf course,” Colville explained. “He has introduced subtle design features to make the rough more penal and has made significant changes to the fairway cut lines.”
Throughout its five years of hosting the event, the Scottish Open has grown in stature, receiving recognition from both the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. The tournament has secured Genesis as its luxury car title sponsor, attracting a stronger field of players. Last year’s champion, Xander Schauffele, was ranked fifth in the world after his victory.
“We anticipate this year’s Scottish Open to be the best-attended thus far, with over 70,000 spectators,” Colville proudly announced. “We have eight of the top 10 players in the world competing, which signifies their confidence in the golf course and the facilities.”
Overall, the Renaissance Club’s transformation into a world-class tournament venue exemplifies the dedication and vision shared by the Sarvadi brothers. By creating a home for the Scottish Open and developing the necessary infrastructure, they have proven their commitment to long-term success. The collaboration between visionary architects like Tom Doak and top golfers like Padraig Harrington has further refined the course, providing players with a true test of their skills. With its elevated status and star-studded field, the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club promises to be an unforgettable golfing experience
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