Turnberry to host the 2015 RICOH Women's British Open

Turnberry’s famous Ailsa course was announced today as the venue for the 2015 Ricoh Women’s British Open for only the second time in the Championship’s history.

Turnberry, the Luxury Collection Resort in Ayrshire and host of the Open Championship on four occasions, was the scene of the Women’s British Open Championship in 2002 when Australia’s Karrie Webb won this prestigious title for a third time. The stunning location of the Ailsa course makes Turnberry one of the most scenic golf destinations in the world.

A top-quality links, the Ailsa course was the scene of the 1977 Open Championship and provided the stage for the famous ‘Duel in the Sun’. In brilliant sunshine, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson went head-to-head over the final two days, with Watson eventually finishing a shot clear of his rival — and 11 shots ahead of the rest of the field. Turnberry also hosted the Open in 1986 (Greg Norman) 1994 (Nick Price) and more recently in 2009 (Stewart Cink).

Webb’s triumph at Turnberry in 2002 saw her open with a stunning first round 66 and close the tournament out with the same score. She came from three strokes back in the final round to clinch victory with a flawless final round over the Ailsa Course. In winning, she became the first player to win the Championship three times.

Webb, who has won over 50 international titles in her illustrious career including seven Major titles and is currently ranked World Number 6 on the Official Rolex Rankings, commented, “I am really pleased to hear that the Ricoh Women’s British Open will be returning to Turnberry. I have wonderful memories of winning the 2002 Championship and I can’t wait to return in 2015. Turnberry is one of the best courses I have played so I hope I can continue on from where I left off in 2002!
Webb continued, “All the players enjoyed the experience of competing on the famous Ailsa course last time round so I think this news will be very enthusiastically received by everyone.”

Shona Malcolm, the LGU’s CEO said, “We are delighted to be returning to Turnberry which has welcomed the Championship back with great enthusiasm. This decision continues the Championship Committee’s commitment to ensuring that the world’s best women players showcase their talents on the world’s best golf courses in years to come. As the history books show, Turnberry provides a wonderful stage for Major golf and I am sure we will see another dramatic Championship in 2015. We are grateful to EventScotland for its continued support and to South Ayrshire Council for recognising the value to business and tourism in hosting a Championship of this quality.”

Jordi Tarrida, General Manager, Turnberry Resort, added, “We are very proud of our reputation as one of the world’s most renowned golf resorts and our history as a Major Championship venue. Hosting the Women’s British Open in 2002 was a fantastic experience so we are delighted to be working once again with the LGU and IMG and bringing the 2015 Championship back to Turnberry.”

The 2015 event will see the Championship played in Scotland, the Home of Golf, for the third time in five years following Carnoustie in 2011 and St Andrews this year. Scotland’s regular hosting of the event is part of a 10-year investment by EventScotland which will see the Championship played in the Home of Golf every second year until 2019.

Paul Bush, chief operating officer of EventScotland added, “It has long been our desire to see the Ricoh Women’s British Open Championship played one some of Scotland’s best and most iconic courses and Turnberry undoubtedly falls into that category. Scotland is the Home of Golf and it is fitting that one of the most prestigious titles in women’s golf will return again in 2015, allowing us to showcase our unrivalled golf tourism credentials to the world. The LGU, IMG and Ricoh have done a fantastic job in growing the event since we began our partnership with them back in 2010 and everyone in Scotland is looking forward to welcoming the players, media and guests to Scotland in 2015.”

Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council concluded, “Ayrshire lends itself to providing golf courses to meet the needs of all levels of golfers including world class professionals. South Ayrshire has a unique and historic place on the international golfing map, with two current Open championship courses, as well as being the home of Open championship golf, having staged the first ever event at Prestwick in 1860. We are delighted to be the destination partner for the Ricoh Women’s British Open in 2015 at Turnberry’s Ailsa course and look forward to welcoming the players, officials and spectators to what, I know will be another fabulous staging of this wonderful championship. It will provide a further opportunity to showcase globally the great golf tourism destination we have here in Ayrshire and Arran, and bring a boost to our local economy. We are committed to providing support for this golf tournament and ones in the future.”

Prior to Turnberry, The Royal Birkdale Golf Club will host its sixth Women’s British Open in 2014, continuing a strong association with the event that goes back to 1982 when Marta Figueras-Dotti took home the coveted title. The Championship returned in 1986 when England’s Laura Davies triumphed. Sophie Gustafson won in 2000 and five years later Korea’s Jeong Jang claimed her first professional victory by defeating Gustafson and another Korean, Young Kim, by four shots on 16-under par 272. In 2010 Yani Tseng, Number One on the Rolex Rankings, came out on top.

The 2014 Ricoh Women’s British Open will be played 10 – 13 July and is showcased, as always, on BBC Television and around the world.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the LGU in 1976 and is staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.

Ricoh, the leading technology provider of Managed Document Services and Production Printing, has been the title sponsor of the Ricoh Women’s British Open since 2007.
For further information please visit www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com

OPPORTUNITY - Golf Tourism Development Executive

Aberdeen Cityand Shire Golf Tourism Alliance – Golf Tourism Development Executive

Invitation to Quote

An opportunity has arisen for a suitably experienced Golf Tourism Development Executive for the duration of two years to develop the Aberdeen City and Shire Golf Tourism Alliance

The development of an Alliance is the result a recent study carried out by Scottish Enterprise, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils.

Several workshops and meetings with both the wider golfing sector and the public sector have taken place since the study was published.  It is clear from these meetings that there is an appetite for Aberdeen City and Shire to create its own Golf Tourism Alliance. An interim Executive Group has been formed made up of representatives of the ATP, golf clubs, accommodation providers and the public sector.

In order to establish the Alliance and begin work on the seven study recommendations, an opportunity has arisen for the role of a part- time golf tourism development executive (2.5 days per week) for the duration initially of two years.

This can be delivered in the following ways;

• A company to take on the contract and deliver the services required or
• A self employed individual

The successful company or individual will ultimately report to the Chairman, who will be supported by the funding partners until such time as the Alliance is formally set up with governance and legal procedures in place.

The aim is to create and develop the Aberdeen City and Shire Alliance in order to significantly add value from golf tourism to the benefit of its members and the area in general.

The successful company or individual will be required to;

a) Set up the Alliance including its formal governance and legal structures.

b) Formalise the membership structure and potential revenues including that of partners and potential partners.

 c) Develop and deliver marketing activity plan including the development of an Alliance website and sales activity to boost golf tourism – generating visitors to visit Aberdeen City and Shire to play the wide range of golf facilities available here.

d) Work with golf clubs to improve the market, financial and business intelligence of clubs so that they can improve the visitor experience and customer service.

e) Work closely with members and stakeholders and the public sector partners to develop and sustain activities and projects that contribute to the success of the members and of Aberdeen City and Shire as a destination for golf tourism.

f) Working with members and partners to develop an annual operational and project budget, seeking funding to support projects where appropriate.

For further information on the full invitation to quote, please contact Elaine Booth elaine.booth@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

 

 

 

The Open 2013 Winner: Phil Mickelson delighted by 'round of my life'

THE OPEN: FINAL-ROUND LEADERBOARD

• -3: Mickelson (US)
• Par: Stenson (Swe)
• +1: Scott (Aus), Poulter (Eng), Westwood (Eng)
• +2: Matsuyama (Jpn), Z Johnson (US), Woods (US)
• Selected: +3: Mahan (US)
• +4: Cabrera (Spa)
• +5: Jimenez (Spa)
• +7: Garcia (Spa), Clarke (NI)

Phil Mickelson called his final-round 66 to win his first Open Championship at Muirfield "the round of my life".

The American, 43, was five shots off the lead overnight but carded the week's low round to win by three.

"This is such an accomplishment because I never knew if I'd be able to develop my game to play links golf," said Mickelson, winner of five major titles.

Phil Mickelson timeline

1970: Born 16 June, San Diego, USA
1990: Wins US Amateur
1991: Wins first PGA Tour title, Northern Telecom Open, while still amateur
1992: Turns professional
1993: Wins first event as a professional, the Buick Invitational
1995: Makes first of nine Ryder Cup appearances
2004: Wins the Masters, his first major title
2005: Wins US PGA
2006: Wins second Masters
2010: Wins third Masters
2013: Wins Open at Muirfield

"I never knew whether I would be equipped, have the shots, have the opportunity to do this."

Mickelson was seemingly on the periphery when a front nine of 34 was followed by a bogey on the 10th, but he birdied the 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th to take the clubhouse lead.

He ended up winning by three shots from Sweden's Henrik Stenson, with English pair Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood four back, alongside Australia's Masters champion Adam Scott, and world number one Tiger Woods another shot back.

The victory moves Mickelson back to number two in the world for the first time since September 2010.

And with three Masters and a US PGA title already to his name, he only needs to win a US Open to complete a career Grand Slam.

"We had such firm, fast conditions here, the epitome of links golf, to putt better than I've ever putted, to shoot the round of my life feels amazing," said Mickelson, who moved into the lead with two holes left in his round.

"When I made that putt on the 13th to get back to level par I thought that would be a score that was going to contend and have a great opportunity to win - and I made some great putts coming in.

"I knew that it was so difficult coming down the stretch that having to make birdies to chase somebody down would be extremely difficult.

"The range of emotions I feel are as far apart as possible after such a difficult loss at the US Open [Mickelson recorded a record sixth runner-up spot in the US Open behind Justin Rose last month].

"You have to be resilient in this game, you have to accept losses and use it as motivation to work harder and come back strong rather than letting it defeat you."

Mickelson's coach Butch Harmon called his charge's performance on Sunday as "the best round of golf I've seen".

"I said when Greg Norman won in 1993 that that was the best round of golf I've seen, but I think this one tops it," said Harmon, who has now coached four Open champions.

"Today the wind blew harder than it has and to go around when you knew you had to do it is absolutely brilliant.

"It took him a long time to understand how to play links golf. Phil plays very aggressive, but you can't do that with links golf. He just embraced how to play on links."

Mickelson's long-time caddie Jim 'Bones' Mackay commented on the serenity of his employer as the tournament entered its final stages.

Mickelson's major victories

• 2004 Masters
• 2005 US PGA
• 2006 Masters
• 2010 Masters
• 2013 Open

 

"He did seem to be really at peace today and very confident with what was going on," said Mackay, who has been on Mickelson's bag since 1992.

"To go from where he was to the top of the leaderboard he had to be very calm. He knew he was putting great and putting himself into a position to succeed out there.

"I think it ranks right up there among his previous wins. I love the Masters but I love the British Open, especially in Scotland. It means the world, for me as his caddie at least, to win - it's very special."

Phil's wife, Amy, told BBC Sport: "He's been very calm, he's been enjoying it so much and he always seems to play well when he's having fun.

"He was very confident this morning, relaxed, and excited for the day. He said 'I'm going to bring you home a Claret Jug'. I always have confidence in him but he was especially relaxed today."

Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open welcomes Arnold Clark as the official vehicle supplier to the tournament

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental has been announced as the official vehicle provider for the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open 2013 presented by EventScotland. Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental joins Aberdeen Asset Management, EventScotland, Archerfield Links, Highland Spring, Tipperary Crystal, and Scotland’s Golf Coast, as an official supporter of the tournament.

The Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open never fails to showcase the talents of top female golfers from across the world, and there will be no change this year at Archerfield Links, East Lothian.

From 30 August – 1 September, the event’s unique three day Pro-Am format will see the limited field of 70 professional golfers playing alongside an amateur field of 70, which will include a number of celebrity faces. The tournament traditionally attracts some of the best female golfers on the Tour and this year will be no different, with the field including last year’s Champion, Carly Booth.

 

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental will be providing vehicles for the players, staff members and exhibitors. The vehicles being provided - Audi A6 Estates, 9 seat Mercedes-Benz Vito and a range of 7 seat MPV’s - will ensure that every player arrives to their starting tee in style. The vehicles were specially selected to ensure that there was sufficient load space to fit even the biggest of club bags or extensive of kit bags.

 

Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental Corporate Account Manager, Philippa Park commented, “Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental is proud to support the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open 2013. We are providing a fleet of vehicles with large amounts of load space in order to cater for the needs of the players and staff alike. Best wishes to all of the competitors and to the organisers for a successful tournament.”

Admittance to the tournament is free. For more information please visit www.ladiesscottishopen.com and follow the tournament on Twitter @AberdeenLSO.

For more information on car or van hire from Arnold Clark visit www.arnoldclarkrental.com

The "Mach Dunes Million" hole in one contest!

Play Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club This Summer and Get a Chance to Swing Away for $1,000,000 USD!

Argyll, Scotland – 16 July, 2013 – The Village at Machrihanish Dunes announced today the kick-off of the “Mach Dunes Million” hole-in-one contest where four lucky participants could win $1,000,000 USD.  From 15 July through 15 October 2013, individuals who register and play an 18-hole round at Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club will be entered into a set of random drawings that will determine four finalists to shoot for the “Mach Dunes Million” on 26 October 2013.

The contest will take place on the picturesque 14^th hole at Machrihanish Dunes, a 167-yard par-3, considered to be one of the best par-3 holes in the UK.  Each finalist must be an amateur golfer and will have one (1) shot to attempt an ace.  A successful and verified hole-in-one will land the golfer a cool $1,000,000 USD.

To qualify for the drawing, players must be 18 years of age, pre-register at the Machrihanish Dunes Golf Shop and complete an 18-hole round at Machrihanish Dunes between 15 July 2013 and 15 October 2013.  Finalists will be chosen on four separate dates during this three-month period at random from the qualified and registered pool of entrants.  The finalist chosen in each of the four drawings will be announced upon meeting contest requirements and confirming a commitment to return to Machrihanish Dunes for the “Mach Dunes Million” hole-in-one contest on 26 October 2013.  For more information and full terms and conditions of the event, please visit www.machdunesmillion.com. 

A small tournament was held 6 July 2013, where twenty random players at Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club were approached by an “Old Tom Morris” impersonator, who presented them with the immediate opportunity to swing for $1,000,000 USD.  Players then teed off in an attempt to ace the 167-yard, par-3, 14^th hole.  A short video with footage from this impromptu tournament, including “Old Tom” Morris, the hole-in-one attempts, and colourful commentary can be viewed at: www.machdunesmillion.com.

“With the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, and the Open Championship taking place now at Muirfield, we wanted to add some excitement for the leisure and amateur golfer,” said David Southworth, President and CEO of Southworth Development, owner of Machrihanish Dunes.  “With Scotland having such a rich history in the sport, it will be fun to offer a potentially richer future for some lucky golfers.”

For a complete review of the full terms and conditions and prizes for this contest, please visit www.machdunesmillion.com.   For information on Machrihanish Dunes Golf Course, accommodation and transportation to Kintyre, please visit www.machdunes.com. 

To view the four minute video please click here.    To view the teaser video please click here.

For more information on the Mach Dunes Million or The Village at Machrihanish Dunes, please contact  Cindy Lawrence, clawrence@southworthdevelopment.com  or call (+01) 617-630-4906

A Short History of Muirfield Golf Club

The first mention of golf at Murfield and the Honourable Company can be traced back to 1744. On March 7, the Edinburgh Town Council presented an impressive silver club for an annual competition for 'The Gentleman Golfers'. The council required that there should be proper regulations for governing play and the brand new Company of Edinburgh Golfers produced thirteen Rules of Play for the first competition. A surgeon called John Rattray won this very first competition.

In 1795, the Club applied for an official charter, which was granted in 1800. From the beginning, the Company was an official authority on the Rules of Play, but passed on the honour to the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in the late nineteenth century.

By 1830, golf had become unexpectedly popular and overcrowding forced the club to begin playing on a local horse race course. Without a clubhouse, members had to store their equipment under the race-course grandstand. This was not an ideal situation and in 1868, the Club built a clubhouse and began to charge members an annual subscription. However, the course was now shared by four clubs, and the Company was forced to move. In 1891 they purchased The Howes, another old horse-racing track. The new course, christened Muirfield, was designed by Tom Morris. Within a year, it hosted the Open Championship.

The course originally had sixteen holes, but was extended to eighteen holes for the Open in 1892. It was entirely surrounded by stone walls, with areas of sandy wasteland and some waterlogged turf. Over a period of thirty years, the land was drained and improved and the sandy areas cultivated. This dedicated interest in improvement led Muirfield to hold another Open Championship in 1896 and to purchase additional land in 1907 to extend the course.

In 1919, Muirfield and the Company chaired a meeting at which the R&A were asked to take over the administration of the Open and Amateur Championships from the individual Scottish host clubs which had previously run them. This allowed Muirfield to focus more on improving play on the course.

In 1923, a further fifty acres were purchased to the north of the course. Renowned course designer Harry Colt was consulted and implemented a redesign that produced the layout of the course as it is today. He introduced fourteen new holes and his design included two loops of nine holes, where one played within the other in the opposite direction. With this, Tom Simpson's re-modelling of the thirteenth hole in 1935 and the current work of golf architect Martin Hawtree, there have been few changes to the physical layout of the course.

Since 1892, Muirfield has had the privilege of hosting forty-two national and international competitions, which is roughly one every three years. Seven of thirteen Open Champions have won their first major over the course but only two have ever won twice – James Braid and Sir Nick Faldo. Of those golfers who have won four or more Open Championships, only Harry Vardon and Tom Watson have triumphed at Muirfield. Watson also won his third Senior Open at the course in 2007.
Golfing competitions for women have graced Muirfield for team matches on several occasions; for the 1914 Scottish Close Championship, the 1952 and 1984 Curtis Cup, and the 1963 and 1975 Vagliano Trophy.

The club has also had the honour of twice hosting the annual Oxford versus Cambridge match – the only occasions where this fixture has been held outside England.

Muirfield, with its dedication to quality and the finest art of play, is the favourite course for many renowned international golfers and has inspired countless others. The final of the 1920 Amateur Championship so impressed the attending USGA President, George Herbert Walker, that he was inspired to found the Walker Cup contest between the top amateurs in America, Great Britain, and Ireland. The 1959 Walker Cup match introduced Jack Nicklaus to Muirfield. He felt such admiration for this historical club and Company that he named his own course in Ohio, Muirfield Village. High praise indeed!

A Guide to Golfing in Scotland

Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

 

By EMILY BRENNAN

 

While many American golf fans will tune in to watch the British Open at Muirfield in Gullane, Scotland, where the first round begins July 18, some may still hesitate at trying their hand at Scottish links golf. Wind, rain and blind holes are, literally, par for the course in the game’s homeland.       

 

Bernard Murphy, general manager of Gleneagles.

                           

But Bernard Murphy, general manager of the hotel and golf course Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland, offers a convincing defense of playing under the country’s sometimes inhospitable skies. “What people lose sight of is that the conditions is part of the game, the history, tradition,” he said. “It’s not a target competition.”

      

Below are edited excerpts from a conversation with Mr. Murphy on how to plan a golf vacation in Scotland and play some of its most inaccessible courses.

       

Q. On a tour of Scotland’s best golf courses, what’s your first stop?

A. St. Andrews on the east coast, because the Old Course is where it all began — links golf — though people wouldn’t hold it as the very best-condition golf course. Kingsbarns would be another great links golf experience within the city of St. Andrews, right by the North Sea. That’s very much part of the links playing experience, the sea. If the wind is blowing from the east, you’re getting the wind from Scandinavia and Russia. It can be bitterly cold, and the driving rain can really make the golf more challenging. Some days you get no wind, and it’s a totally different game.

      

Q. Where to next?

A. Head inland and stop at the Ladybank Golf Club and then continue on to Gleneagles. One can play any of our courses: the P.G.A. course designed by Jack Nicklaus or the King’s and the Queen’s courses, which date before the hotel opened in 1924. There’s lots to do besides golf: the spa, the Michelin-starred Andrew Fairlie restaurant, tennis, whisky tours.

Then go southwest to Turnberry on the Atlantic. It has an excellent hotel, and the Ailsa course is fantastic. The ruins of the Scottish king Robert the Bruce’s castle you can see from the ninth hole. Around there are a whole host of hidden gems like the Prestwick and the Royal Troon, and that’s what you really want to get to in Scotland.

 

Q. And if you were to go north?

A. The Royal Aberdeen is a good golf course by the sea. If you’re in Aberdeen, you’ll want to be staying at a hotel called the Marcliffe. They’re well tuned up to everything there. Nairn, that’s farther north. Farther still is Royal Dornoch. Tom Watson said that it’s one of his favorite golf courses.

 

Q. How difficult is it to get on these courses?

A. A lot of these smaller members courses like Muirfield, where the British Open is being held, Prestwick and Royal Troon, they have been around for hundreds of years. They’re run by the members for the members; consequently it’s not as straightforward as getting your credit card. But you can get on these courses on certain days and times. Ring them up or check their Web sites to find out which days are open to visitors. Or hook up with larger resorts like ourselves because our pro will know the places that one can and can’t get on. Or find a good travel adviser.

 

Q. Any recommendations for one?

A. There’s an agency called Haversham & Baker, and a tour operator called PerryGolf, and another called Links Golf St. Andrews. They know people locally and will do a good job.

 

Q. Any suggestions for deals?

A. GolfBreaks.com and YourGolfTravel.com, both very reputable. You do see deals in some of the British newspapers. In The Telegraph, for instance, you’ll sometimes see two golfers for the price of one. Worth looking on these sites and seeing if there’s anything under golf before you come.

New Scottish golf advert could reach 120 million

By ALISTAIR MUNRO, THE SCOTSMAN
Published on 11/07/2013 14:47
A POTENTIAL global audience of 120 million will watch a new advert promoting Scotland as the Home of Golf.

The adverts showcasing some of Scotland’s most iconic scenery and famous golf courses will be screened in the US during their coverage of the Scottish Open, which tee-ed off on the coast of the Moray Firth this morning.

It is part of a new £400,000 campaign launched by First Minister Alex Salmond at the event being held at Castle Stuart Golf Link on the outskirts of Inverness.
VisitScotland’s brand new television adverts are the first to be purely dedicated to golf.
Whilst attending The Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club last year, the First Minister helped broker a deal with American TV channel, NBC, which resulted in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open becoming the first regular European Tour event to be broadcast live on a US network television.

The adverts will be shown during the coverage on NBC in the US and Sky Sports in the UK, reaching international audiences of tens of million.

The advert will feature some of Scotland’s most beautiful scenery, with Laura Murray, one of the most successful Scottish amateurs who has turned professional this year, hitting golf balls under the spectre of Glenfinnan Viaduct as the Jacobite steam train passes across.
Private Jamie Notman also plays a shot from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle, as Bombardier Ally Jones fires the famous One O’Clock gun.

The First Minister met Murray as they revealed the new adverts in the tented village at Castle Stuart.
Mr Salmond said: “Scotland is the undisputed Home of Golf. We have the best courses in the world, and these fantastic adverts will cement that reputation to tens of millions of golf fans across the globe.

“During the Scottish Open, we have a captive global audience of golf fans so this is the ideal opportunity to give Scottish golf the biggest ever push. The fact that the tournament is being broadcast on American network television, to tens of millions of US viewers, is a fantastic endorsement for Castle Stuart, and the Scottish Open.

“This is a great boost for Scotland, and for Scottish golf, as well as being an incredible opportunity to showcase our outstanding scenery and the golf on offer across the country.

“Millions of visitors each year come to Scotland to play golf, and the sport brings millions of pounds to the Scottish economy. I hope that even more viewers from around the world tuning into the Scottish Open will see what the country has to offer.

“Golf is a significant part of Scotland’s identity and culture, and I’d like to invite everyone to come and test their skills on the finest golf courses in the world.”

As well as the TV adverts, the campaign also includes online and on-air consumer promotions, aimed at golf audiences in the UK and United States, specifically promoting the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and its coverage on Sky Sports and the Golf Channel on NBC.
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: “The profile of golf in Scotland over the next couple of years is going to be extremely high, so it’s important that we capitalise on every opportunity afforded to us to ensure Scotland remains at the forefront of golfers’ minds all over the world.

“The large TV audience and the thousands of visitors who will witness the very best of Scotland during the next two weeks of competition will be treated to some spectacular golf on two fantastic courses.

“Golf tourism is worth £220m to the Scottish economy, and therefore a major contributor to the country. We have a wealth of fantastic events this year and, with the Ryder Cup next year, we are creating the optimum platform for a lasting golf legacy in Scotland.”

The adverts can be viewed on YouTube, at www.youtube.com/ScotlandHomeofGolf

Driving down To Cambletown

Amazing sights, stunning views what a drive!!
now some great golf