With roughly two weeks to go before the first competitive shot is struck at the RBC Canadian Open, tournament director Bill Paul is still sorting out a slew of logistical issues.
Chief among them is figuring out how to squeeze all the players, caddies and family members on Golf Canada's charter flight from the British Open in Scotland to Toronto's St. George's Golf and Country Club.
"There's 82 seats and right now I've got 98 people booked on it," Paul said Monday afternoon. "We're making arrangements with some other people to seek alternate ways home. Our numbers (on the jet) increase every year.
"We're cognizant that we don't want somebody not getting on the plane and deciding he wants to withdraw, I don't think that looks good on us. Between ourselves and RBC, we'll come up with a plan and we'll get a plane home for the overflow."
It's just the latest in a series of obstacles the organization has had to work through since deciding to take the national open back to St. George's for the first time in 42 years.
The Stanley Thompson-designed course is widely considered one of the best in the country, but it's wedged into a neighbourhood in Toronto's west end and doesn't offer a lot of room for all the tents, trailers and hospitality areas a modern PGA Tour event requires.
Fortunately, the venue has been well received by players and the early list of entries is stronger than "10 or 15 other tour events," according to one industry insider. Camilo Villegas, Retief Goosen, Tim Clark, Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Y.E. Yang and Rickie Fowler are among those who have committed so far.
Each of those players will compete in the British Open at St. Andrews and take the private charter back to Canada following the final round. It's the fourth year Golf Canada has run the charter, which has become an important tool in recruiting players.
"The bottom line is they'll all come off the plane going, 'If you didn't have it, we probably wouldn't be here,"' said Paul. "I think that's the telling tale. Most Air Canada flights are sold out well ahead of time coming back."
The tournament could also receive a bonus with Anthony Kim eyeing a return from thumb surgery. The popular American has withdrawn from the British Open, but it's believed there's a good chance he'll play his first event since May at St. George's.
The narrow, tree-lined course first opened in 1929 and is completely different than the wide-open Glen Abbey layout which hosted the past two Canadian Opens. Organizers are hoping the change of venues might bring better luck with the weather -- rain caused major delays in 2008 and 2009, and forced a rare Monday finish a year ago.
There's is still a fair bit of work to do before the first round on July 22. Islington Ave., a major north-south artery in Toronto's west end, will be closed to traffic starting July 12 and setup crews are scheduled to go into overdrive once that happens.
"The goal all along was to finish the golf course first and then to attack Islington Ave.," said Paul. "You've only got seven days to put it up. That's the hard part, just all of that timing."
Paul has been involved with the Canadian Open since the late 1970's and can't recall tackling as many different logistical issues with one tournament -- everything from addressing the concerns of local residents to finding adequate parking spaces to figuring out where the practice facility will be set up.
However, he's optimistic it will all be worth it in the end.
"This has been the most crazy, but we knew going into it that there were going to be challenges," said Paul. "As I've said many times, with challenges come opportunities. I think the way it's all shaping up, it'll be pretty neat just to have a final putt there on the Sunday.
"I never thought, just like a lot of people, that it would happen."
Chief among them is figuring out how to squeeze all the players, caddies and family members on Golf Canada's charter flight from the British Open in Scotland to Toronto's St. George's Golf and Country Club.
"There's 82 seats and right now I've got 98 people booked on it," Paul said Monday afternoon. "We're making arrangements with some other people to seek alternate ways home. Our numbers (on the jet) increase every year.
"We're cognizant that we don't want somebody not getting on the plane and deciding he wants to withdraw, I don't think that looks good on us. Between ourselves and RBC, we'll come up with a plan and we'll get a plane home for the overflow."
It's just the latest in a series of obstacles the organization has had to work through since deciding to take the national open back to St. George's for the first time in 42 years.
The Stanley Thompson-designed course is widely considered one of the best in the country, but it's wedged into a neighbourhood in Toronto's west end and doesn't offer a lot of room for all the tents, trailers and hospitality areas a modern PGA Tour event requires.
Fortunately, the venue has been well received by players and the early list of entries is stronger than "10 or 15 other tour events," according to one industry insider. Camilo Villegas, Retief Goosen, Tim Clark, Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Y.E. Yang and Rickie Fowler are among those who have committed so far.
Each of those players will compete in the British Open at St. Andrews and take the private charter back to Canada following the final round. It's the fourth year Golf Canada has run the charter, which has become an important tool in recruiting players.
"The bottom line is they'll all come off the plane going, 'If you didn't have it, we probably wouldn't be here,"' said Paul. "I think that's the telling tale. Most Air Canada flights are sold out well ahead of time coming back."
The tournament could also receive a bonus with Anthony Kim eyeing a return from thumb surgery. The popular American has withdrawn from the British Open, but it's believed there's a good chance he'll play his first event since May at St. George's.
The narrow, tree-lined course first opened in 1929 and is completely different than the wide-open Glen Abbey layout which hosted the past two Canadian Opens. Organizers are hoping the change of venues might bring better luck with the weather -- rain caused major delays in 2008 and 2009, and forced a rare Monday finish a year ago.
There's is still a fair bit of work to do before the first round on July 22. Islington Ave., a major north-south artery in Toronto's west end, will be closed to traffic starting July 12 and setup crews are scheduled to go into overdrive once that happens.
"The goal all along was to finish the golf course first and then to attack Islington Ave.," said Paul. "You've only got seven days to put it up. That's the hard part, just all of that timing."
Paul has been involved with the Canadian Open since the late 1970's and can't recall tackling as many different logistical issues with one tournament -- everything from addressing the concerns of local residents to finding adequate parking spaces to figuring out where the practice facility will be set up.
However, he's optimistic it will all be worth it in the end.
"This has been the most crazy, but we knew going into it that there were going to be challenges," said Paul. "As I've said many times, with challenges come opportunities. I think the way it's all shaping up, it'll be pretty neat just to have a final putt there on the Sunday.
"I never thought, just like a lot of people, that it would happen."
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