Golf club honours "Voice of Rugby" Bill McLaren

THE 16th hole where "Voice of Rugby" Bill McLaren scored a hole in one will be renamed in his honour tomorrow.

The veteran broadcaster spent much of his spare time with wife Bette playing the fairways of Hawick Golf Club in the Borders.

He also scored an incredible hole-in-one at the 292-yard par four 16th on the Vertish Hill course although the exact date remains unclear.

A new granite plaque will be unveiled by his daughter Linda at a special celebrity-am tournament attended by Scots rugby legends being staged at the club tomorrow. The line-up involves rugby greats including Andy Irvine, Ian McLachlan, Tony Stanger, Gregor Townsend, Scott Hastings, Craig Chalmers, Keith Robertson, Iwan Tukalo, Jim Renwick and Roy Laidlaw.

Also playing at the event in aid of the Bill McLaren Foundation will be Ken Scotland and Bev Risman who took part in the 1959 British Lions tour.

Previously known as Pit, the 16th hole will now be called McLaren's Miracle.

Club captain Roddy McIntyre said: "Not only did Bill have a hole-in-one on the Vertish, but he was the 'Voice of Rugby' and he was such a famous person in his own right.

"And because he was such a long-standing member we felt it was proper to honour him."

Eighty-six-year-old McLaren - who began his commentating career for BBC radio in 1953 - passed away in January.