Golf tourism venture

Feb 18 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

GLENEAGLES’ golf courses have teamed up with VisitScotland in the biggest ever global golf promotion to “Drive it Home.”

Phase one of the campaign runs until the end of the month, targeting golf fans around the world and offering them opportunity to win a two-day luxury golfing break including accommodation at The Gleneagles Hotel.

The promotion comes during the year of Active Scotland, a campaign to grow tourism spend in every corner of the country in the run-up to staging two of the world’s greatest sporting events in 2014, the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup.

Last year’s “Drive it Home” promotion generated nearly £2.5 million for the Scottish economy, reaching a global audience of 70 million.

Run in partnership with Golf Tourism Scotland, this year’s campaign aims to further cement Scotland’s global reputation as the Home of Golf, with other prizes including the opportunity to compete in the Johnnie Walker Championship Pro-Am at Gleneagles as well as the chance to play with Ryder Cup legend Sam Torrance at the new home of the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, near Inverness.

Sam said: “I’ve played golf all over the world, but nothing can match the experience of playing the game in Scotland – the undisputed Home of Golf.

“VisitScotland’s Drive it Home campaign gives people everywhere the chance to enjoy some of this country’s finest courses and, of course, pit their wits against yours truly. I can’t imagine a much better prize than that!”

Richard Pinn, regional director VisitScotland, said: “Golf is a vital part of the tourism economy in Perthshire and we boast some of the most famous courses in the country.

“This campaign encourages local golf courses and the wider tourism industry to work together and cross-sell, an approach which will help the industry achieve its full potential, particularly in the current climate.

“Tourism is the sustainable bedrock of the Perthshire economy and with courses and hotels from across the region involved in VisitScotland’s 2011 Drive it Home campaign is a perfect example of a partnership working together for the good of Scottish tourism.”