NEW ST ANDREWS LINKS TRUST CHIEF WAS ASSISTANT PRO
FROM THE DUNDEE COURIER WEBSITE
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/
By CHERYL PEEBLES
Organising a military tattoo with pipers and drummers from around the globe and looking after the world's most famous golf course might seem like two very different jobs.
But for the new boss of St Andrews Links Trust, there are not a million miles between his old role as chief executive and producer of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the one he stepped into a month ago.
As new chief executive of the trust, Euan Loudon has gone from being in charge of a musical extravaganza which attracts an audience of over 200,000 each year to taking responsibility for St Andrews' seven links courses, including the Old Course which is considered a Mecca for golf fans.
He told The Courier, "There are a lot of parallels. You need to put on a good show and you need to sell lots of tickets and, in a funny way, there is a parallel between something that is pure entertainment in one of the most famous locations in Edinburgh and something that is not about entertainment per se but about delivering a sporting experience at another of the most famous places in Scotland."
Mr Loudon, who lives near Gateside, comes from a military background. He joined the army in 1974 and quickly rose through the ranks. In his final appointment, as major general, he was general officer commanding 2nd Division and governor of Edinburgh Castle.
He was awarded the OBE for operational service in the Gulf as the chief of staff of the Desert Rats and the CBE for operational service in Northern Ireland.
Mr Loudon also has golf running through his veins, having begun playing at the age of seven, learning with hickory shafts, and working as an assistant professional before enlisting.
His first experience of the Old Course was as a 16-year-old in the early 1970s.
"I played two rounds. In my first round I came back with a pretty respectable number and avoided the bunkers. In the afternoon, when I knew where those bunkers were, I came in with a dreadful score and had been in about 20 bunkers. But it was a great day.
"If you had asked that 16-year-old who was struggling with bunkers whether he would be back in an executive role, he would have said you were off your head."
With the glory of the 150th anniversary Open Championship just months behind it, the links trust, under Mr Loudon's leadership, is anticipating a bumper year ahead.
What Mr Loudon described as the "magnetism" of St Andrews, coupled with its quality, heritage and unique place in the story of golf, will always pull golfers from around the world.
"What we want is for people, whether they are a local golfer or a visiting golfer, to walk home, drive home or fly home and say 'wow, that was great.'"
TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE, BUY A COPY OF
TODAY'S COURIER AND ADVERTISER OR
LOG ON TO THE NEWSPAPER'S WEBSITE
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/
CLICK HERE
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/
By CHERYL PEEBLES
Organising a military tattoo with pipers and drummers from around the globe and looking after the world's most famous golf course might seem like two very different jobs.
But for the new boss of St Andrews Links Trust, there are not a million miles between his old role as chief executive and producer of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the one he stepped into a month ago.
As new chief executive of the trust, Euan Loudon has gone from being in charge of a musical extravaganza which attracts an audience of over 200,000 each year to taking responsibility for St Andrews' seven links courses, including the Old Course which is considered a Mecca for golf fans.
He told The Courier, "There are a lot of parallels. You need to put on a good show and you need to sell lots of tickets and, in a funny way, there is a parallel between something that is pure entertainment in one of the most famous locations in Edinburgh and something that is not about entertainment per se but about delivering a sporting experience at another of the most famous places in Scotland."
Mr Loudon, who lives near Gateside, comes from a military background. He joined the army in 1974 and quickly rose through the ranks. In his final appointment, as major general, he was general officer commanding 2nd Division and governor of Edinburgh Castle.
He was awarded the OBE for operational service in the Gulf as the chief of staff of the Desert Rats and the CBE for operational service in Northern Ireland.
Mr Loudon also has golf running through his veins, having begun playing at the age of seven, learning with hickory shafts, and working as an assistant professional before enlisting.
His first experience of the Old Course was as a 16-year-old in the early 1970s.
"I played two rounds. In my first round I came back with a pretty respectable number and avoided the bunkers. In the afternoon, when I knew where those bunkers were, I came in with a dreadful score and had been in about 20 bunkers. But it was a great day.
"If you had asked that 16-year-old who was struggling with bunkers whether he would be back in an executive role, he would have said you were off your head."
With the glory of the 150th anniversary Open Championship just months behind it, the links trust, under Mr Loudon's leadership, is anticipating a bumper year ahead.
What Mr Loudon described as the "magnetism" of St Andrews, coupled with its quality, heritage and unique place in the story of golf, will always pull golfers from around the world.
"What we want is for people, whether they are a local golfer or a visiting golfer, to walk home, drive home or fly home and say 'wow, that was great.'"
TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE, BUY A COPY OF
TODAY'S COURIER AND ADVERTISER OR
LOG ON TO THE NEWSPAPER'S WEBSITE
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/
CLICK HERE
Labels: GOLF NEWS
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Tuesday, February 08, 2011
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