Scottish Golf has today (6 October) received a welcome first birthday present by toasting a new sponsorship deal with brewers Belhaven – extending their partnership together to 20 years.
A year on from the launch of the new governing body for golf in Scotland, which saw the amalgamation of the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association, the new deal with the ‘Home of Scottish Brewing’ was announced at Glenbervie Golf Club, with representatives from 40 different clubs gathered to raise their glasses to the fresh agreement.
Belhaven’s sponsorship will focus on support for clubs, headlining the popular Scottish Captains and Secretaries Championship, while also becoming a partner of Scottish Golf’s new online Members Clubhouse, a digital platform which rewards members of affiliated golf clubs.
The Dunbar-based brewery’s official association with Scottish Golf stretches back to their sponsorship of the Scottish Club Handicap Championship in 1999, meaning it is one of the longest-running partnerships across Scottish sport.
Gordon Muir, Brand Manager for Belhaven Brewery, welcomed the new deal and said: “Belhaven has enjoyed a fantastic relationship with Scottish Golf and many clubs across the country for nearly two decades and we are delighted to extend our sponsorship for a further three years. The Captains and Secretaries Championship provides a great platform for us to showcase our support to clubs and maintain our position as the Official Beer Partner of Scottish Golf.
“While Belhaven Best has become affectionately known as the ‘Golfer’s Pint’, the new sponsorship allows us to promote our wider range of products, from our specialist craft beers to our traditional brands, such as St Andrews Ale which is hugely popular with golfers, both at home and abroad.”.
The sponsorship will see Scottish Golf’s ‘Player of the Week’ receiving Belhaven prizes, rewarding club golfers with the best nett scores in the country.
Blane Dodds, Scottish Golf Chief Executive, added: “Belhaven remain a fiercely loyal supporter of Scottish Golf and we’re very pleased that we can announce a three-year extension to our sponsorship to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our partnership.
“With more than 600 clubs across every community in Scotland, and in excess of 200,000 members, Scottish Golf is the biggest of any sports governing body in the country. We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with Belhaven to toast the great camaraderie and friendships forged in Scotland’s clubhouses and on our golf courses every week.”
The Grand Final of the Belhaven Captains & Secretaries Championship took place at Glenbervie last Thursday, with the pairing from Jedburgh Golf Club in the Borders emerging victorious.
In windy conditions, the duo of Gary Hughes and Steven Henderson breezed to success in the battle of 40 club pairings. The Jedburgh side fired a superb four-under-par 67 in the tough weather, winning by two shots from the Polmont pairing of Tom Forsyth and Mark Rae.
The Innerleithen team also finished under par to claim third place, with five sides tied on level par in fourth spot: Brora, Burntisland, Gannochy, Bonnyton and Crichton.
For more information on Belhaven, visit www.belhaven.co.uk
Scottish Golf www.scottishgolf.org