With advance ticket sales 15 per cent ahead of last year, record crowds are expected to head to Loch Lomond this week to watch Johan Edfors defend his title in the £3 million Barclays Scottish Open.
For the fourth year running, spectators at the event will be helping to raise money for the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).
While the world’s top golfers, including Phil Mickelson, Angel Cabrera, Luke Donald, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, David Howell, Tom Lehman, Colin Montgomerie and Josà© Maria Olazà¡bal, compete for the £500,000 first prize, golf fans will be competing for top prizes in various charity golf activities in the Tournament Village, all in aid of CHAS.
There are lots of great prizes on offer including a trip to the famous Butch Harmon Teaching Summit in Las Vegas, the latest Ping G5i Craz-e putter, and a weekend break for six at the Bowmore Distillery on Islay.
Peter Adams, championship director of The Barclays Scottish Open, said, “The Barclays Scottish Open is proud to be supporting CHAS with a number of fun activities for spectators in the village including the Huxley Putting Challenge, the Ping Fitting Centre, a Golf Teaching Centre in association with Provision, Golf Lessons with Explanar, two golf simulators and the Grand Prize Draw.”
Niall Flanagan, general manager, Loch Lomond Golf Club, said, “Last year we raised £20,000 for CHAS over the week of the tournament so all being well we can better that this year. Advanced ticket sales are well ahead of 2006, which is remarkable given The Open Championship is taking place in Scotland this year. We are expecting record crowds and anyone who has not yet purchased tickets will be able to do so at the gate.”
In line with the policy embraced by The European Tour, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and The Golf Foundation, of making the game more accessible to the younger generation, The Barclays Scottish Open is pleased to offer free entry to accompanied juniors under the age of 16.
Loch Lomond Golf Club www.lochlomond.com