“If you win in Scotland, the Home of Golf, it is always extra special. I really enjoyed the week here and the way that the fans got behind me - they were amazing.”
Martin Kaymer, Winner of The 2009 Barclays Scottish Open
Scotland is ‘The Home of Golf’ and as such is uniquely placed to host major world class tournaments and competitions. Since our inception, EventScotland has worked to strengthen Scotland’s reputation as the world’s foremost golfing destination through strategic support and development of our portfolio of golf events.
Scotland is home to more than 550 spectacular golf courses from Gleneagles in scenic Perthshire, which will host The 2014 Ryder Cup, to The Old Course at St Andrews on the spectacular Fife coastline which will host the 150th anniversary of The Open Championship this year in 2010.
Since 2005, and as part of an Associate agreement with the R&A, EventScotland, VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise annually invest in The Open Championship to showcase Scottish golf on the world stage. At home, this event contributes significantly to the Scottish economy when it is held here and, in 2007, the Open Championship generated an economic impact of £26.7 million, attracted 133,000 spectators and was broadcast in 163 territories across the world. Indeed, five out of the nine Open Championship venues in Scotland, ensuring the benefits of hosting the tournament are generated on a regular basis.
In 2010, Scotland will again see a significant number of world-class golf tournaments take place over some of our best links and inland courses. As well as The Open Championship, EventScotland will invest in the Scottish Hydro Challenge at the Macdonald Spey Valley Highland Resort, the Senior Open Championship presented by Mastercard at Carnoustie, the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open presented by EventScotland at Archerfield Links and the Cleveland Golf / Srixon Scottish Seniors Open at the Fairmont St Andrews hotel.
In the years leading up to The 2014 Ryder Cup, EventScotland will continue to develop an unrivalled portfolio of events to showcase Scotland’s world class golf credentials. Golf itself is a major industry in Scotland and golf tourism contributes millions of pounds each year to the Scottish economy. Scotland is also home to some of the finest golfers in the world including Colin Montgomerie who will captain the 2010 European Ryder Cup Team and former captains Sam Torrance and Bernard Gallacher. EventScotland supports the development of new talent and young golfers through initiatives like Clubgolf and the Scottish Hydro Challenge tournament which provides a platform to support elite golfing talent as they make the transition from amateur to professional.
