The Open to drive economic success

Written by EventScotland

Around 170,000 golf fans are set to flock to South Ayrshire for The Open this week, providing a significant impact to Scotland’s visitor economy and cementing Scotland’s reputation as the Home of Golf.

Last year The Open, held in St Andrews, delivered an economic impact of £140m to Scotland, making it the biggest golf event ever held in the UK & Ireland.

Almost two thirds of spectators attended from outside of Scotland and 28 per cent from overseas, showing the international scope of the Championship. Now, for the second year in a row, spectators are set to flock to Scotland to watch the world’s best golfers in action, bringing with them a huge economic impact for the region and the country as a whole.

The Open, the world’s oldest and most prestigious professional golf tournament, is one of nine professional golf events which are being hosted in Scotland this year across both the men’s and ladies’ game.

All nine events are supported by the EventScotland team within VisitScotland’s events directorate, which invests almost £3m per year on hosting major golf events and marketing Scotland as a world-class golf tourism destination.

The 145th Open Championship, which takes place at Royal Troon (14-17 July) for the ninth time, is expected to attract around 170,000 spectators as some the biggest names in golf, including Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth, compete for the title of Champion Golfer of the Year and the iconic Claret Jug.

Scotland’s spectacular summer of golf teed off with The Scottish Hydro Challenge at Spey Valley, Aviemore in late June with tournaments taking place across the summer, concluding with the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship set to be played across St.Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns courses in October.

The Open at Royal Troon will be followed by the return of the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open at Dundonald Links (22-24 July).

The event, which is one of the biggest on the Ladies European Tour and takes place the week before the Women’s British Open, is supported by VisitScotland as part of Scotland’s commitments to hosting The 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. Last year more than 10,000 spectators turned out to watch the action at Dundonald.

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said:

"Golf is a vital part of the visitor economy with the ripple effect felt in shops, hotels, restaurants and a wide variety of other businesses across Scotland. These high profile events don’t just provide entertainment – they represent a multi-million pound benefit to Scotland – both urban and rural.

"Scotland continues to be envy of world golf when it comes to the hosting of the biggest and best events in the game. In 2014 Scotland was showcased on the world stage with the hosting of the ‘best-ever’ Ryder Cup and last year we followed that up with return of The Open in St Andrews, the most successful golf event ever held in the UK and Ireland.

"The Open at Royal Troon and the eight other golf events in Scotland this year only enhance further our country’s reputation as the Home of Golf with many more lined up for future years such as the Solheim Cup in 2019."

SUMMER OF GOLF ITINERY 2016

Date: 23 – 26 June 2016

Event: SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge

Location: Spey Valley Golf Club, Aviemore

Date: 2 – 3 July 2016

Event: Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open Pre-Qualifier

Location: The Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth

Date: 7 – 10 July 2016

Event: Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open

Location: Castle Stuart, Inverness

Date: 14 – 17 July

Event: The Open

Location: Royal Troon, South Ayrshire

Date: 21 – 24 July

Event: Senior Open Championship

Location: Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus

Date: 22 – 24 July

Event: Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open

Location: Dundonald Links, South Ayrshire

Date: 4 – 7 August

Event: Paul Lawrie Match Play

Location: Archerfield Links Golf Club, East Lothian

Date: 19 – 21 August

Event: Scottish Seniors Open

Location: Archerfield Links Golf Club, East Lothian

Date: 6 – 9 October

Event: Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Location: Old Course, St Andrews, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, all Fife

To find out more about golf in Scotland visit, www.visitscotland.com/golf

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only