FINE-TUNING LINKS GOLF ON OUR COAST

How quickly time flies! Both the Scottish Open and the final Major of the year have been and gone. The Renaissance Club provided a glorious setting in East Lothian and showcased Scotland’s links golf. Whilst Royal St George’s in Kent looked fantastic and played superbly.

Five of the World’s Top 10 Played

And what worthy winners! Min Woo Lee held his nerve in the Scottish Open play-off. He joined the likes of Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood and Rickie Fowler as Scottish Open champion. What an amazing event. Fans were back, the field was terrific and the weather made it tricky enough. With five of the world’s Top 10 playing, it is clear to see that the golfers are treating the Scottish Open as the place to be before the Open.

Min Woo Lee

Meanwhile, at the Open, Collin Morikawa played the best golf, with style, class and with a clear enjoyment of the game. There will be many more Majors to come, we think.

Get Acclimatised to Links Golf in East Lothian

Morikawa was keen to point out that his journey to Scotland and the Renaissance Club the week prior to his Major triumph, certainly helped him fine-tune his links game. The Champion Golfer of the Year talked positively about getting acclimatised to links golf in East Lothian. The Renaissance is a slightly different challenge to the links courses of Kent. However, the unpredictability of the weather, the turf and the type of golf, no doubt helped Morikawa with his shot choice and club selection.

It has been great to see UK championship golf return to a global stage. During these uncertain times, golf courses have been closed, open, events being on, off. Travel has been restricted, cancellations and postponements all part of the day-to-day routine. It is a huge credit to the industry that golf is still plugging away.

The personalities and products are shining a light on leisure and tourism in Scotland. Whether golfers have played, or are still waiting to play, the world-class golf in Scotland has a unique anticipation and aura. The latest travel news will hopefully see the much-needed return of international visitors to our shores.

A member or a visitor, the golf experience Scotland offers is to be cherished. Thanks to golf, the smiles that come to the golfers’ faces, the laughs and competition re-ignited allow us to enjoy normality for a while. We’re thoroughly looking forward to the rest of the summer and beyond.

Scottish Women’s Open and AIG Women’s Open 2021

Impressively, the focus on golf in Scotland continues throughout 2021 and into 2022. This August, the new and hugely impressive Dumbarnie Links, plays host to the Women’s Scottish Open. The AIG Women’s Open is at Carnoustie the week after.

The Open and the Women’s Open 2022

The attention then turns to The Home of Golf, St Andrews. The Alfred Dunhill Links will be in October this year and the small matter of the 150th Open in July 2022. That will be some week!

On Scotland’s Golf Coast, the best women golfers will be pitting their wits against one of the best links courses in the world. It is amazing news that Muirfield, the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, will host the AIG Women’s Open in 2022.

“The Honourable Company relishes the prospect of hosting the AIG Women’s Open in 2022. Our members and many others will be enthusiastic in welcoming the world’s best women golfers as they tackle our famous championship links”. Alistair Campbell, Captain

Scotland’s Links Golf

On Scotland’s Golf Coast, we are hugely proud to have hosted the abrdn Scottish Open this year and we are excited to host more championships in the future. It is very satisfying to play our part in golf tourism in Scotland. There is no doubt that we all love to see the incredible footage of our wonderful coasts. We will continue to work hard to promote our destination and to ensure our visitors leave with magical memories.

David Cockerton, Owner of Garleton Lodge, Hotel, Restaurant & Spa, said;

“We are all looking forward to a successful year in 2021 and welcoming visitors back from across Scotland and beyond – we’re good to go. It has been a hugely challenging period for everyone due to the pandemic. We hope there is a demand to return to East Lothian such is the quality of our product. Scotland’s Golf Coast continues to be a success and we look forward to working with all our providers to capitalise on the excitement for golf and the opportunities to travel again in 2021.”