NEWS RELEASE FROM THE SCOTTISH GOL UNION
Providing
a fantastic start to the nation’s historic Ryder Cup year, Bernard
Gallacher OBE is to be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement accolade at
the 2014 Scottish Golf
Awards.
Ahead
of the biennial contest at Gleneagles in September, Gallacher will
fittingly collect his award when the event returns to the Hilton Glasgow
on Friday, February 28, alongside
winners from every level of the game in Scotland.
The
evening is now established as one of the highlights on the golfing
calendar, attracting nearly 600 guests to the prestigious Glasgow venue
back in March and earning a nomination
at the 2013 Scottish Event Awards.
Gallacher
– the eight-time Ryder Cup player and victorious captain in 1995 – is
sure of a night to remember alongside members of his family, especially
in light of his recent
health scare.
The
64-year-old suffered cardiac arrest before giving an after-dinner
speech at the Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen in August and spent almost a
week in intensive care as golf
fans the world over prayed for his survival.
With
Gallacher now thankfully well on the road to recovery, he is planning
his return to the golf course and will be heavily involved in leading a
campaign for the defibrillator
machine that saved his life at the Marcliffe to be made widely
available at golf courses throughout Britain.
Resultantly,
all proceeds from the ‘Long Putt Challenge’ at the 2014 Scottish Golf
Awards will go towards Gallacher’s fundraising efforts, with the new
Scottish Golf Charitable
Trust also set to benefit from proceeds raised from ticket sales.
“I’m
delighted to be accepting a Scottish Golf Lifetime Achievement award
ahead of such a special year for golf in the country,” said Gallacher,
whose award is sponsored by
Jewson, the UK's leading supplier of building and timber materials.
“It’s
an honour to follow the greatest names in Scottish golf who have
received this award in the past,” continued Bernard, who will join Colin
Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie, Sam
Torrance and last year’s recipient, Sandy Lyle, in the nation’s Hall of
Fame. “It promises to be a wonderful evening in Glasgow, one I’m
thoroughly looking forward to.
“I
enjoyed my playing career, as an amateur and a professional, but it’s
probably my contribution to the Ryder Cup that I’m best remembered for.
It was a privilege to captain
three teams and winning in America at Oak Hill was really the icing on
the cake for me.
“I
played in the first Ryder Cup in Scotland in 1973 at Muirfield and,
like all golf fans, I’m looking forward to it coming back for what will
be a fantastic contest.”
Remarkably,
Gallacher was involved in every Ryder Cup team between 1969 and 1995 –
either as a player, assistant or captain. One of the most highly
respected of all Scottish
golfers, he was Tony Jacklin’s assistant from 1985 to 1989, toasting a
first-ever European victory over the Americans at The Belfry in 1985 and
on US soil for the first time two years later.
Emulating
another Bathgate Golf Club stalwart, Eric Brown, Gallacher was
appointed team captain at Kiawah Island in 1991 and then at The Belfry
two years later, before victory
duly came at Oak Hill. Gallacher, whose nephew is Scotland’s No 1
professional Stephen, collected 22 professional wins, finishing in the
top 10 on The European Tour Order of Merit five times between 1972 and
1982. In his amateur days, he was a Scotland international
and won the 1967 Scottish Stroke Play.
As
well as Gallacher’s honour, the annual awards night – jointly organised
by the Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association
– will honour the achievements
of Scotland’s amateur and professional golfers over the past year, and
take a look back at the country’s proudest Ryder Cup moments.
Leading
broadcaster Dougie Donnelly will MC the event, alongside a host of
stars and celebrities from across the sporting spectrum, with Scotland
football managers Gordon Strachan
and Craig Brown, rugby legend Tony Stanger and Olympic curler Eve
Muirhead all in attendance earlier this year.
Awards
will include Scottish Player of the Year – sponsored by long-standing
SGU supporter Aberdeen Asset Management – Amateur Golfer of the Year and
Shot of the Year.
Sam
Torrance, who was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the
2012 event, said: “The Scottish Golf Awards are one of the highlights of
our golfing year.
“Three
generations of my family were there in 2012 and we had a great night
with plenty of entertainment. I'd encourage golf fans to try and be
there in February, as it will
launch what will be a huge year for Scotland and golf in general.”
Guests
will have the opportunity to have their photograph taken with the Ryder
Cup, Claret Jug and Solheim Cup, while an array of fantastic golfing
prizes will be up for grabs
in the fundraising auction and raffle.
A
table of 10 at the black tie event, which also features live music from
Gleadhraich, champagne reception and 3-course meal with wine, costs £850, while individual tickets
are priced at £90, including VAT.
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