The deal extends Belhaven’s partnership with amateur golf in Scotland to fifteen years having been launched back in 1999, making it one of Scottish sport’s longest standing sponsorships. The Dunbar-based brewer’s investment will continue to focus on support for clubs at the grass roots level, with the continuation of the Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship and the Belhaven Best Captains and Secretaries Championship.
Belhaven, who sell more than one million pints of their flagship Belhaven Best brand in Scotland’s golf clubs each year, has more than trebled its annual investment in amateur golf over the past decade and is the Scottish Golf Union’s biggest cash sponsor from the private sector.
The biggest participation event on the amateur circuit, the national club handicap championship attracts more than 25,000 club golfers each year from 300 clubs, with the SGU also announcing that this year’s final will take place on the famous Torrance Course at the Fairmont, St Andrews. The championship is a free-to-enter event for adult members of all SGU affiliated golf clubs, won last year by Ranfurly Castle.
The Belhaven Best Captains and Secretaries Championship was launched in 2006, designed to reward the efforts of Scotland’s club administrators with a series of five regional finals taking place throughout the year and this year’s national final at Pollok on the south side of Glasgow in September.
Euan Venters, Belhaven Managing Director Brewing and Brands, was delighted to extend his company’s commitment to amateur golf in Scotland: “Golf clubs have been at the heart of the Belhaven Best success story for nearly twenty years and so we’re delighted to reward amateur golf with our continued sponsorship. Belhaven Best is Scotland’s number one ale brand and is hugely popular among golfers, both members and visitors alike,” said Venters.
“We have developed a fantastic relationship with the Scottish Golf Union during our partnership and they manage our sponsorship and events extremely well. Both championships continue to grow in popularity and it’s great to give something back to our customers at every level.
“We look forward to hopefully working with the new amalgamated governing body and hope our investment can help Scottish Golf and their clubs continue to move forward.” he added.
Chairman of the Scottish Golf Union Douglas Connon expressed his gratitude to Belhaven. “Sponsorship income is a vital part of the Scottish Golf Union’s commitment to supporting clubs and we are indebted to Belhaven for their continued investment. Fifteen years is a long time for any partnership and this highlights the mutual benefits both parties generate with this sponsorship,” said Connon.
“The passion for golf shown by the team at Belhaven shines through and it’s great to be working with a partner whose ambitions match those of our own. Belhaven Best is one of the country’s best known brands and we are very proud to have such a strong association with it.” Connon concluded.
Belhaven www.belhaven.co.uk