Actually although the golf is an open event players still have to qualify, so that would be the same, there would just be some places that other nationalities could qualify for.But there is another factor. It is not open. People have to qualify. That helps to popularise Swisses all over the country. You would have to be very certain indeed that sweeping aside many of these smaller events would be to the advantage of British chess before undertaking such a radical step.
However, I take your point and Roger De Coverley's that chess needs a national championship that is closed as that is the way that it is done in the chess world. I suppose the problem is that you can't watch chess in the same way you can watch golf ( what an amazing final day in the golf I was really sad Watson didn't win) so there isn't the same interest in sponsoring it. Also a lot more people play golf seriously.
I've got to say though I think it is great having the interactive boards where you can watch games on the internet. Well done to the people who set the interactive stuff up. Last year we watched our one and only junior win a game in the under 14 event at the British. It's a pity he's not going this year but he didn't fancy playing in the under 16 event and he is barred from the graded events.
Yes my name is Michele not Michael and I am female. My gg grandmother was French and mum liked French names. It is surprising how few women play chess. When Worcestershire got into the U100 national final a couple of years ago 1/4 of our team was female but I was surprised to find that there didn't seem to be any other female players even though there were lots of teams.