Tourists given chance to play Ryder Cup course

Golfers in Scandinavia, Germany and North America are being targeted in a new marketing drive aimed at building momentum before the 2014 Ryder Cup.

The golf tournament is being played in Scotland for the first time in more than 40 years in September 2014.

An estimated 45,000 spectators will descend on Gleneagles for each day of the famous clash between Europe and the US, a showdown expected to generate around £100 million for the Scottish economy.

Tourism body VisitScotland has launched a campaign aimed at boosting the sport which supports 4,400 Scottish jobs, encouraging people to play golf in the country. Bosses said the Drive It Home promotion will target “key golfing markets” such as the UK, Sweden, Germany and North America.

As part of the promotion, VisitScotland is offering 16 golf fans, eight from Europe and eight from the US, the chance to play in a Ryder Cup-style competition later this year on the very course where the professionals will battle it out in 2014.

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “Drive It Home really shows what Scotland has to offer in terms of excellent golf with accommodation and service to match.

“The opportunities that come with hosting the Ryder Cup are massive, from both an economic perspective and for creating a lasting legacy for Scottish golf.”