The Scottish Golf Union (SGU) is proud to announce All Square®, the new social network exclusively for golfers, will be official sponsor of this week’s International European Men’s Amateur Championship at The Duke’s Golf Club, St Andrews (August 6 – 9).
The sponsorship is part of a wider partnership between the SGU and All Square (www.allsquaregolf.com), a new digital platform for golfers to connect and share their experiences online or via a free iPhone smartphone app, whilst also giving clubs the opportunity to market to a growing social media audience.
The International European Men’s Amateur Championship, with a field of 144 of the continent’s leading amateur golfers, boasts an impressive heritage with former champions that include current Open champion Rory McIlroy, Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Scotland’s leading Tour professional, Stephen Gallacher, who took the title 20 years ago.
Among the Scots looking to lift the trophy on home soil, and with it a place in next year’s Open Championship at The Old Course, will be recently crowned Fairstone Scottish Amateur Champion, Chris Robb, who heads an 18-stong contingent from the host nation, while England’s Ashley Chesters will be out to defend his title.
Of the hopefuls from across the continent, the highest-ranked player in the field is world number five, Renato Paratore from Italy. One of his playing partner will be Ireland’s, Paul Dunne, who played in last month’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. Paratore was due to strike the tournament’s opening tee shot at 7 am today (August 6).
Commenting on All Square’s association with the championship, company co-founder and past Swiss national amateur champion, Arthur de Rivoire, said: “The European Amateur Championship, featuring some of golf’s brightest young talent, represents the perfect platform for us to showcase our new social network for golfers.
“All Square was designed to harness the passion for golf on a community level and connect the power of people’s love of the game on one free, accessible and engaging social media platform, and we look forward to sharing it with this week’s competitors.”
SGU Marketing, Media & Sponsorship Manager, Ross Duncan, said: “It’s been a record year for SGU sponsorship income so we’re delighted to keep the momentum going with the addition of All Square. The European Amateur Championship is one of the biggest events in amateur golf and All Square’s support will enhance what promises to be an exciting week of golf.”
Coming hot on the heels of last week’s Fairstone Scottish Amateur Championship at Downfield, the Scottish Golf Union stages the championship for the first time since 2003, working alongside the European Golf Association and host club, The Duke’s.
“Highlights of the Championship will also be featured on Sky Sports, which is great for our profile, and there will be lots of interest in the event across Europe. Social media has become a great tool for many aspects of golf and having a networking platform exclusively for golfers will help extend our reach even further,” added Duncan.
The Duke’s Golf Club, owned by the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in St Andrews, offers one of the best heathland championship courses in the UK. The course, designed by five-time Open winner Peter Thomson and renovated by Tim Liddy, is set in a spectacular location above St Andrews with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside to the sea.
Spectator entry is free this week, or for live scoring and news updates visit www.scottishgolf.org
All Square www.allsquaregolf.com