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a nation, the Scots love a reason to celebrate
their culture and heritage and, above all,
their passion for golf. In honor of Homecoming
Scotland 2009, a year-long celebration of
all things Scottish, The British Open will
return to Turnberry after an absence of 15
years.
When
it comes to the Open, regarded by many as
the biggest and best event on the global
golfing calendar, Scotland and its golfing
enthusiasts are spoiled. That's because
the event is staged in the "Home of
Golf" at least every other year, with
St Andrews, Muirfield, Carnoustie, Royal
Troon and Turnberry all on the list of selected
venues for this annual golfing extravaganza.
In fact, the Open returns to Scotland in
2010 when the Old Course at St Andrews will
play host.
The
very first Open, the only major golfing
championship held outside the USA, took
place at Prestwick in 1860, when eight players
challenged for the title over the 12-hole
course and it was won by Willie Park, a
Scotsman. It is therefore fitting that the
138th Open should return in 2009 to Turnberry
(July 16-19) in Burns' homeland of Ayrshire,
and the 1977 setting for the Tom Watson
and Jack Nicklaus classic "Duel in
the Sun." To coincide with the Championship,
iconic artifacts such as the Claret Jug
and the Challenge Belt will be on display
at an interactive Homecoming Scotland exhibition
titled "Whole in One" at Maclaurin
Galleries, Rozelle House, Ayr (from June
1 to August 31).
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Scotland
– The Home of Golf for Everyone
Having pioneered the game from as
early as the 15th century, and with
more than 550 courses to choose from,
Scotland is a prime location for golf
enthusiasts the world over. From the
iconic Old Course at St Andrews, the
oldest set of fairways in the world,
and the coastal Links of Aberdeenshire,
Morayshire, Ayr, Argyll and East Lothian,
to the inland challenges of Gleneagles
and Loch Lomond, Scotland's golf courses
offer some of the most challenging
golfing in the world. Golfers of more
modest ambitions can play on championship
courses or pick from hundreds of hidden
gems such as Traigh, Arisaig in the
West Highlands; Craigielaw, East Lothian;
and Shiskine, the only 12-hole links
course on the island of Arran. What
makes golf in Scotland so special
isn't just the quality of the courses
but also the warm welcome you'll receive.
The Scots have a reputation throughout
the world for being friendly, and
nowhere is this friendliness to visitors
more evident than on the fairways
and in the clubhouses of Scotland's
golf clubs.
2009
is an exciting year for Scotland,
as Homecoming puts some exceptional
golf events into play across the country:
Whole
in One Golf Exhibition
June 1 –
August 31, 2009 - Maclaurin Galleries,
Rozelle House, Ayrshire, West Central
Scotland
This exhibition will be staged to
coincide with the Open Golf Championship
played at Turnberry in South Ayrshire
in July 2009. Iconic artifacts such
as the Claret Jug and the Challenge
Belt will be on display in this exhibition,
which explores the story of golf and
the Open and its impact on fashion,
tourism and social history. CLICK
HERE for details.
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Gleneagles
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The
Old Course at St. Andrews
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Turnberry
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The
Open Championship
July 16 –
19, 2009 - Ailsa Course, Turnberry, Ayrshire,
West Central Scotland
Scotland is recognized as the birthplace
of golf and The Open Championship will provide
one of the focal points for the Year of
Homecoming in 2009. The 138th staging of
The Open Championship, golf's oldest major,
will find The Champion Golfer of the Year
in 2009 at Turnberry. The venue is legendary
for golf fans, recalling the famed "Duel
in the Sun" in 1977 when Tom Watson
finally triumphed over Jack Nicklaus on
the 72nd. CLICK
HERE for details.
Johnnie
Walker Championship
August 2009 - Gleneagles,
Perthshire, Tayside
The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles
is one of the most exciting sporting events
held in Scotland. Played over the PGA Centenary
Course—the venue for the 2014 Ryder
Cup matches—the Championship is well
established and always attracts some of
Europe's finest golfers including Championship
Chairman Colin Montgomerie. CLICK
HERE for details.
Homecoming
Classics 2009
May – October 2009 - Courses in
Ayrshire, Fife, East Lothian, Speyside and
the Highlands
Scottish Golf Classics will offer a perfect
blend of the well known and the hidden gems.
The five main events that will make up the
Scottish Golf Classics 2009 provide the
golfer with the opportunity to mix world-class
championship golf with play on some of Scotland's
finest and yet still underplayed courses.
From Dornoch in the north to Prestwick in
the southwest, the courses selected to host
the 2009 events provide a superb challenge
for the club golfer the length and
breadth of Scotland, and perhaps most importantly,
they continue to offer unbeatable value.
CLICK
HERE for details.
2009
is, without a doubt, the year to tee off
in Scotland. Learn more and get great deals
on golfing vacations at www.cometoscotland.ca
03/09
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TRAVEL
DEALS
Scottish
Golf Union -
Overseas membership: Many clubs in the SGU offer overseas
membership to visiting golfers. This means you can be
a member of a club in Scotland even if you don't live
here. Find a list of golf clubs offering overseas membership
here.
Minimum
$100 discount
per person if booked before
May 2009.
Destination Golf
Golf Scotland's Best-Classic East Coast Customized Golf
Pilgrimage with Driver Package Elements
more...
Minimum
$100 discount per person valid May-August 2009.
Golf International
Scotland's Top 5 Courses All Guaranteed, Including St.
Andrews Old Course, Carnoustie & Kingsbarns.
more...
Minimum
£250 discount per person on 3 night package.
Drumgolf
Amazing 5 star Old Course trip.
more...
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