Dates for Ryder Cup 2014

So they've just announced it will run from September 26th-28th at Gleneagles. Are they barking mad?!!! Have they learned nothing from Wales? Having played there at that time of year, they will need to get VERY lucky with the weather. More than likely it will be cold, wet and dark ... with preferred lies required. Gleneagles has massive drainage problems in the height of summer! It's a massive gamble that late in the year. Presumably all driven by US dates, but it should have been at least 2 weeks earlier in my opinion.

Dave, September was absolutely terrific up here this year, and has been for the last 2-3 years.

It seems that the summer up here is generally rubbish, but Spring and Autumn are generally good.

September saw very mild weather and virtually no wind, perfect golf conditions.

s_r .... Personally think it's asking for trouble leaving it THAT late in September. Sunrise at about 07:20 (but it would be very damp that early), and sunset at 18:50. Best of luck with that in fitting in foursomes and fourballs in one day if there are any rain delays!

Dave, there's no guarantee it will be damp. The central and eastern areas of Scotland are much drier than the western areas of Wales.

You could easily fit 36 holes into that time too, regardless where you hold it, possible weather delays are always a concern.
Agreed, an earlier August time would be better, but I'm sure it's a scheduling issue with the governing bodies rather than bad thinking due to the perceived weather in Scotland at that time of year.

September in Perthshire is generally wonderful.
June and July are generally rubbish months, May, August and Sept are good.
I think that July is one of the wetest months in Scotland. Open fans will probably agree with that!
Daylight hours would be roughly the same as SE England

s_r ... Just checked my diary, and coincidentally I last played Gleneagles on the 26th & 27th of September this year! May have been unlucky, but the weather on both days was horrendously wet and windy ... to the point where the courses SHOULD have been closed. Huge puddles everywhere, balls were regularly plugging on fairways and greens, and there was basically no run on the course. I play there a few times a year (including a timeshare week), as it's not that far south for me, and would just like to see the course at its best for the RC. I think that's unlikely to be the case that late into September, but fingers crossed.

Perhaps Dave, I played it at the tail end of June and it was the same. So perhaps it isn't the best venue regardless of when it's played.
I'd be happy to have it in Sweden or somewhere like that.

This year hasn't been a good year for weather really. As lots of people have said above, Perthshire is generally nice in September.

Having the RC in the UK anytime is weather dependent, the fact it's in Auchterarder is no different.

So perhaps it isn't the best venue regardless of when it's played.

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Would probably agree with that TBH. If it rains there then it can hang about in the hills for days (as it did for 3 days when I was there in June!). Drainage is a real problem at Gleneagles. If ever there was a location that would benefit from the Sub-Air system used at Augusta (amongst many other places), then this would be it. Had heard some rumours about that going in on the PGA course, but who knows.

It's probably there due to money anyway.
Valderamma was one of the best venues for me. Would be happy to see it there again.

Regardless of what you think about the weather on those dates where else would it fit into the golfing calendar?

Early season jan-feb, need to keep the high rolling arabs happy so probably not a great idea to dump one of those events. April is the masters and may the players. June is run up to US open then July has the open. August has a wgc and PGA. Then the start of September is the fedex.

There really is very little free space on the calendar and it is lucky not to be played in late October.

Could easily get rid of a tin pot competition, e.g. French Open, Portuguese Open or one of the many tournaments played in Spain, plenty of rubbish no mark tournaments in America too which could be shelved.

McLaren ... Yes, the golfing calendar is the problem, but that's where I think golf has its priorities all wrong. Events should be fitted in round the Ryder Cup, not the other way round! Late August/early Sept would have been better IMO, but as you say the Fedex moneyfest dictates that won't happen.

Hopefully all will be well in late Sept, but it will really be a massive case of fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

It's laughable to see people trying to guess what the weather will be like over a weekend in September 2014.

It's nothing but luck as to what weather you'll get so chill.

Ryder Cup weekend 2010 - monsoon

The same weekend in 2011 - scorchio

Mercurio

Fair enough up to a point, but just think the odds are better earlier in the year. TBH it's daylight as much as weather that's likely to be a problem that late in the year, if there are any weather delays.

There is 12 hours of daylight at that time of year. Plenty.

There is 12 hours of daylight at that time of year. Plenty.

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Not if Keegan Bradley is playing, mate!