ENTERPRISE TO DEVELOP GOLF AT LOCAL LEVEL
Left to right: Stuart Callan (Bathgate club pro), Mike Cantlay (Chairman, VisitScotland) and Jackie Davidson (Clubgolf Manager). Picture by Kenny Smith Photography
EACH SCOTTISH GOLF CLUB TO
EACH SCOTTISH GOLF CLUB TO
RECEIVE TWO RYDER CUP TICKETS
NEWS RELEASE FROM THE SGU
European
Ryder Cup vice-captain Sam Torrance and Sky Sports presenter David
Livingstone are backing a new Scottish Golf ‘Club Toolkit’ initiative
which will encourage clubs to build a legacy from The 2014 Ryder
Cup through access to coveted tickets for the event itself.
Making
the announcement at Bathgate Golf Club, a venue synonymous with The
Ryder Cup having produced two members in Eric Brown and Bernard
Gallacher as captains, the Scottish Golf Union (SGU), Scottish Ladies’
Golfing Association (SLGA) and ClubGolf, in association with tourism
agency VisitScotland, revealed that the country’s near 600 golf clubs
would be given the opportunity to receive at least two tickets for The
Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in September, to be used
in developing the game at local level.
The
‘Ryder Cup Ready’ toolkit provides clubs and ClubGolf facilities with a
guide featuring ideas on how to maximise the countdown to Scotland’s
first Ryder Cup in 41 years, including building junior membership,
retaining members, generating more clubhouse revenue, attracting new
golfers and increasing visitor numbers.
The Ryder Cup’s official
broadcaster, Sky Sports, is also backing the club activity, through a
special ‘6 months for the price of 4’ subscription offer
and the chance to become one of Sky Sports’ ‘Ultimate Venues’ during
the week of the event.
Clubs
will be invited to apply for the tickets, which have been awarded by
The Scottish Government as part of Scotland’s host nation allocation,
based on running Ryder Cup themed activity in the run up to the
event in late September and successful clubs will be rewarded with two
tickets for match days and up to eight practice day tickets.
With match
day tickets for the biennial event now sold out, the initiative will
provide a unique opportunity for golfers in Scotland to attend one of
the world’s biggest sporting events, with clubs encouraged
to give golfers young and old the chance to get their hands on the
tickets.
Sam
Torrance, the victorious European Ryder Cup captain in 2002, who will
be a key member of Paul McGinley’s backroom team at Gleneagles, welcomed
the initiative: “The Ryder Cup Ready Club Toolkit is a great idea,
as there’s no better time for clubs to showcase themselves amid the
buzz of The Ryder Cup.
“It’s
fantastic to see such as large proportion of tickets going to clubs
across Scotland, giving the chance for club members to be part of what
will be an amazing home crowd at Gleneagles.
“The
practice days are also a fantastic spectacle and I’m sure those
youngsters and volunteers attending will savour the experience and
inspire them to stay involved in the game of golf with the chance to see
the world’s best players in action.”
Cabinet
Secretary for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison, said: “With
The Ryder Cup on the horizon, there has never been a better time for
golf clubs across Scotland to raise their ambitions, increase
their membership and make new offers to local communities and to
visitors.
“The
Scottish Government is backing this toolkit with Ryder Cup tickets to
encourage clubs to capitalise on this great opportunity, leaving a
lasting legacy from the Ryder Cup of vibrant clubs and more people
enjoying golf.”
Hamish
Grey, Chief Executive of the Scottish Golf Union, added: “The SGU and
SLGA are hugely grateful to the Scottish Government as host nation,
passing these tickets onto clubs and those involved at the grass
roots of the game.
“We
were keen to ensure that The Ryder Cup can provide a benefit to
Scottish Golf at all levels and, through the ideas within the toolkit,
we’re sure that clubs will make the most of this fantastic opportunity,
whether that’s through a Ryder Cup theme day for all their members or
an Open Day to attract new members.
“It’s
also great to see those clubs involved in ClubGolf being rewarded, with
the programme now making such a big impact to many clubs across the
country, through growing their junior section’s membership.”
A
total of 3,000 tickets will be provided to Scottish Golf from the
Scottish Government’s Host Nation allocation, with 2,000 tickets being
given to ClubGolf and 1,000 tickets awarded to the SGU and SLGA. Each
club will be invited to apply for tickets via the Scottish Golf Union
and ClubGolf websites.
Four
clubs across Scotland will be awarded the title of Sky Sports Ultimate
Venue, each winning a 3D TV and a visit from The Ryder Cup trophy to
their club for a day. These clubs will be selected based on running
the most successful Ryder Cup themed activity during the summer.
Mike
Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, lead agency for delivering The 2014
Ryder Cup on behalf of Scotland, said: “The importance of The 2014
Ryder Cup to golf clubs and golf tourism in Scotland cannot be
overstated.
“There
is no doubt that the week of The Ryder Cup will deliver an influx of
golfing visitors to Scotland but it is what we do before, during and
after the event that will provide the lasting benefit to our golf
industry. The toolkit outlines many ways in which golf clubs can
capitalise on this enhanced exposure and benefit for many years to come,
ensuring we maintain and build on Scotland’s reputation as the Home of
Golf.
“We are
delighted to have played a part in this toolkit through our partnership
with both the SGU and SLGA and our strong relationship with Sky Sports
and we look forward to welcoming the world to our golf clubs
in 2014 and beyond.”
David
Livingstone, Sky Sports Golf Presenter, added: “Sky Sports’ coverage of
The Ryder Cup since 1995 has grown and developed dramatically with
every edition and I feel privileged to be part of such a talented
and knowledgeable team.
“It’s
great that this deal will make golf’s ultimate team event more
accessible for Scottish golf fans enabling them to follow every shot
exclusively live from Gleneagles.”
·
Further information on the Toolkit and the ticket allocation can be found here:
http://www.scottishgolf.org/club-services/marketing/ryder-cup/
·
Labels: RYDER CUP
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