International Pairs will head to the Home of Golf to celebrate its tenth anniversary in style after announcing that both the world and UK finals will be held in Scotland next year.
Competitors from around 30 countries are set to gather at the Duke’s Course in St Andrews for the International Pairs world finals from 21-23 September 2008. And the 36-hole competition – the world’s largest of its kind in the world for club golfers – will return to Scotland less than a month later when the UK finals are staged on the renowned historic links of Carnoustie for the second year running.
Competitors from as far-a-field as America, China, Israel, South Africa, Australia and Thailand are expected to fly in to compete in the fifth International Pairs world final and they will experience a Duke’s Course that has undergone a extensive series of changes over the last 18 months.
Measuring 7,500 yards off the back tees, the majority of the bunkers have been remodelled while the addition of new tees, heather, gorse and trees and the re-design of the closing stretch of holes makes the heathland championship layout one of the ‘must play‘ courses.
Andy Campbell, director of golf at the Duke’s Course – which is owned by St Andrews’ Old Course Hotel – said, “The Duke’s is delighted to be hosting such a prestigious tournament as the International Pairs and we look forward to welcoming the competitors to what we believe is a wonderful and challenging setting worthy of testing the best players.”
The 2008 International Pairs UK finals, which will determine the International Pairs national men‘s, ladies and mixed champions, will be played over Carnoustie’s Championship and Burnside courses from 14-16 October 2008.
Finalists will be based at the four-star Carnoustie Hotel overlooking the world-famous Angus links and scene of the 2007 Open Championship, while the respective national winners will go on represent their countries at the 2009 International Pairs world final.
Colin McLeod, golf services manager of Carnoustie Golf Links, said, “We’re delighted to be able to continue our association with the International Pairs and for the UK final to be played here for the second year running. International Pairs is growing with each year and seeing the level of camaraderie on show at this year’s final was fantastic.
“The competition provides people with the opportunity to play an Open Championship venue and it is important from our perspective that as many people as possible can do that because we are a public links.”
The International Pairs has been backed by VisitScotland for the last five years – and the national Scottish tourist body has committed to be the tournament’s main sponsor until at least next year.
International Pairs www.internationalpairs.com