Scottish venues for Pairs UK semi-finals

Carnoustie Golf Hotel behind the 16th green will play host to the UK Pairs finalists in mid-October (Cal Carson Golf Agency image, all rights reserved).

Spotlight on Monifieth, Ladybank,
Blairgowrie and Letham Grange

Open qualifying venue Monifieth heads an impressive list of courses selected to host this year’s International Pairs UK semi-finals.
Monifieth’s medal course joins other renowned Scottish lay-outs Ladybank, Blairgowrie and Letham Grange and English venue The Players Club as qualifiers battle for the right to compete at the 2008 UK Final - to be held for the third year running at Carnoustie.
The announcement of this year’s semi-final line-up continues a strong tradition of top quality courses associated with International Pairs – the annual better-ball Stableford competition which is run in association with VisitScotland.
Ross Honey, the founder and managing director of International Pairs, said: “It is always our aim to deliver some of the best quality golf courses to stage the semi-finals and this year is no exception.
“We have secured five first-rate courses which all have excellent reputations and to be able to offer people the chance to play places like Monifieth and Ladybank can only enhance the competition’s reputation for the future.”
This year’s semi-final dates are:
August 17-18: The Players Club, Bristol
October 12-13: Ladybank, Blairgowrie, Monifieth and Letham Grange.
The 2008 International Pairs UK finals, which will determine the International Pairs national men's, ladies and mixed champions, will be played over Carnoustie's Championship and Burnside courses from October 14-16.
Finalists will be based at the Carnoustie Hotel overlooking the world-famous Angus links, while the respective national winners will go on represent their countries at the 2009 International Pairs world final.
International Pairs has introduced an additional way of entering this year with the launch of the 2008 International Pairs Open Qualifier - a knock-out tournament open to all club golfers with a valid CONGU affiliated handicap.
Honey added: “While the number of clubs participating is growing all the time, it became clear to us that there were still golfers wanting to take part that couldn’t, because their clubs could not satisfy the necessary criteria or they missed out on qualification at their club.
“Knock-out is one of the most exciting formats of all in golf and we’re thrilled to offer a new way to get involved in International Pairs.
“We are working hard behind the scenes to ensure that the competition realises its true potential for the thousands of people who enter the tournament - both in the UK and all over the world.”
International Pairs has been backed by VisitScotland for the last six years – and the national Scottish tourist body has committed to be the tournament’s main sponsor until at least the end of this year.
To enter the International Pairs new knock-out competition or to register a club, call 01489 878509, or e-mail info@internationalpairs.com . Alternatively, visit the Pairs’ website at http://www.internationalpairs.com/.