St Andrews is well accustomed to playing host to momentous golfing events and feats of sporting excellence. This season is set to be no different with the staging of the inaugural Old Course Hotel Pro Am which will bring together championship courses at The Home of Golf in an exciting format for both amateurs and professionals.
Confirmed as a key fixture within The PGA in Scotland 2022 schedule, the tournament will challenge teams to play three tournament rounds at three of Scotland’s finest courses – The Duke’s, Kingsbarns Golf Links and Dumbarnie Links – between 21-23 September. With a minimum purse of £35,000 for PGA pros, incredible prizes for amateur teams and an awards dinner held in The Hall of Champions, The Old Course Hotel Pro Am provides a unique opportunity to be a part of history.
“St Andrews has always been associated with the legends of the game and many of its most memorable sporting moments,” said Ayden Roberts-Jones, manager of The Duke’s. “This tradition is set to continue with the launch of this multi-course pro am event with St Andrews and Fife at its core. This tournament provides a unique opportunity for passionate golfers to play some of the finest courses in Scotland while making their own piece of history.”
Launching The Old Course Hotel Pro Am, Roberts-Jones stressed the calibre of the partners involved. “We have brought together for the first time three of the finest courses in Fife including The Duke’s; the only heathland course at The Home of Golf and part of the prestigious collection of Kohler championship golf courses, Kingbarns Golf Links; one of the world’s best links courses and the award-winning Dumbarnie Links. These are prestigious courses in their own right, but brought together as part of this unique pro am event, they will provide the finest stage for golf.”
The PGA in Scotland-managed event will feature an amateur team competition played over three days alongside an individual professional competition over the same duration. Teams will comprise three amateurs and a professional with the option for teams to bring their own pro, or be allocated one by The PGA in Scotland.
The event will be based at the five-star Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa with golf at The Duke’s, Kingsbarns Golf Links and Dumbarnie Links. According to the chief executive at Kingsbarns Golf Links Alan Hogg, the event will bring together some of Scotland’s best golfing experiences.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this exciting event and work alongside our distinguished partners to deliver a very special tournament for pros and amateurs alike,” he said. “With three fantastic rounds at three stunning venues, the inaugural Old Course Hotel Pro Am has been created as a blend of the best of Scottish golf. Kingsbarns, for instance, has an established track record of hosting pro am events including the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Partnering for the first time with purely Fife courses, we look forward to welcoming the teams to the east coast of Scotland.”
Kingsbarns recently picked up the Best Customer Service accolade at the annual Scottish Golf Tourism Awards while the team at the Old Course Hotel were the winners of the Best Large Hotel category. Not to be outdone, Dumbarnie Links debuted in style after collecting the Overall Best Golf Experience.
David Scott, general manager at Dumbarnie Links, said the pro am format would create an unforgettable experience. “Dumbarnie Links is delighted to be part of the inaugural Old Course Hotel Pro Am,” he noted. “Staying in one of the finest golf hotels in the world and competing over two fine links and a great inland course will create a memorable experience for all the competitors. For the team at Dumbarnie, the tournament will be a fantastic way to conclude a phenomenal summer of golf.”
Representing the interests of PGA professionals, The PGA in Scotland organises around 60 events throughout the year. According to its regional manager, The Old Course Hotel Pro-Am is a welcome addition to its busy schedule.
“The PGA in Scotland is delighted to be supporting the new and exciting Old Course Hotel Pro-Am,” noted David Longmuir. “This is certainly going to be an attractive new event on The PGA in Scotland calendar, with some fantastic courses and venues. We look forward to working with the Old Course Hotel team to deliver an aspirational and high-quality three-day event.”
The inaugural Old Course Hotel Pro Am will take place between 21-23 September 2022. For more information, visit www.oldcoursehotelproam.com