The world’s largest golf event for club golfers, International Pairs, has received the official backing of the Scottish Golf Union.
This accolade cements further the event’s unique relationship with the Home of Golf which, in the summer of 2005, signed a deal to host the UK final of the competition until 2010.
Scotland will also host the world final in 2007, 2010 and 2013.
The Scottish Golf Union is responsible for growing the game, developing talent and supporting clubs in Scotland, running 17 national amateur championships and Scotland’s international amateur teams – and its patronage is much appreciated by the International Pairs.
Ross Honey, the man who founded the competition as a county event eight years ago, said: "We have been talking to the Scottish Golf Union for some time now. As the governing body for amateur and club golf in Scotland, it obviously can’t enter into any such partnership without scrutinising the competition.
"So to receive the support of the Scottish Golf Union is a vindication of everything we are trying to achieve.
"The relationship is mutually beneficial, with many marketing and PR opportunities opening up for the SGU."
Ross Duncan, the SGU’s Marketing & Sponsorship Manager, said; "The key reason for our endorsement is the growth of the International Pairs over the last few years and the opportunity for our ordinary club golfers to compete in a prestigious event.
"It’s one of, if not the largest handicap competitions in the world, and obviously we’re keen to see it grow within Scotland – particularly as we are hosting the world final in the near future."
He added: "The International Pairs is a great concept and it gains a lot of media coverage. It’s important we recognise the tournaments that target the average club golfer, not just those at the top end."
The International Pairs has been working closely with the Scottish tourism authority, VisitScotland, since 2003 when the UK final was first hosted in the country at St Andrews Bay.
Since then, the final qualifying rounds of the UK event have been rotated around the country, visiting no fewer than 24 courses and bringing an estimated £1.3m-worth of tourism revenue into Scotland and press coverage valued at £2.5 million according to a VisitScotland report.
The competition was also recognised for its work with VisitScotland in 2005 by being nominated for two Scottish Thistle Awards – the Events and Festivals award and the Small Business Marketing Initiative.
The International Pairs is the largest competition for club golfers in the world. Around 40 countries are expected to contest the world final in 2006.
The competition is only seven years old, having been designed as an event for Hampshire-based golf clubs to celebrate the Millennium. Yet, the event has expanded exponentially and Scotland has reaped the benefit since it first held the UK final.
Contact:
Pete Richardson or Dave Bowers
08700 330 550
email pete@prcpr.co.uk or dave@prcpr.co.uk
