Ryder Cup to tour Scotland before Gleneagles

Teeing off at Edinburgh’s OMNI Centre from 10am to 7pm, this Thursday, 4th September, members of the public will have the opportunity to see one of the world’s most recognisable sporting trophies.

The Ryder Cup Trophy will then travel by helicopter making stops in the Scottish Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, Argyll, Isle of Harris, Shetland and Aberdeenshire, before arriving at Gleneagles, host of The 2014 Ryder Cup.

The week-long tour, in partnership with VisitScotland, will stop at courses rated for their tourism and environmental efforts. At each location, members of the public will have the opportunity to see and have their picture taken next to, The Ryder Cup Trophy. The experience can be shared online with the hashtag #rydercuptrophytour. The tour will conclude with the arrival of The Ryder Cup Trophy at The Gleneagles Hotel, host of The 2014 Ryder Cup, on Wednesday 10th September.

The launch event at Edinburgh’s OMNI Centre will also incorporate the unveiling of a large-scale installation welcoming The Ryder Cup back to Scotland, the Home of Golf. The striking image of one of Scotland’s ‘Big Five’ – a Golden Eagle – carrying the iconic Ryder Cup trophy ‘back to Scotland’, will adorn the exterior of The OMNI Centre in Edinburgh until the end of September and is sure to become a real talking point within the city, and beyond with visitors being encouraged to share pictures of the installation across social media.

Richard Hill’s Europe’s Ryder Cup Director said: “The Trophy Tour is about sharing the magic of The Ryder Cup and bringing one of the world’s most iconic sporting trophies to the doorsteps of fans and members of the public across the country. It also highlights just how wide reaching the legacy effects of the event will be. One of the foundations of this has been the ClubGolf programme and we are delighted that some many young Scots now have the chance to take part in a sport that offers a lifetime of exercise and camaraderie.”

Legacy

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland said that the impact of the tournament would be felt long after it was finished,

He said: “As we prepare to host The 2014 Ryder Cup, the legacy and economic benefits are set to be felt right across Scotland, not just in the accommodation sector but also travel and transport, Scottish food and drink suppliers, attractions and a wide range of businesses throughout the industry. This amazing and ambitious Trophy Tour will see this historic golfing prize travel to four magnificent corners of the country, taking in some of the most spectacular and geographically remote golf courses in the world, while also representing the various legacy benefits associated with hosting The Ryder Cup in Scotland, including junior golf, golf tourism, golf events and Green Drive.

“From St Medan Golf Club in Dumfries & Galloway to Whalsay Golf Club in Shetland, the instantly recognisable Ryder Cup Trophy brings with it a real sense of excitement, drama and prestige. Beginning the tour by unveiling a striking image of a Golden Eagle on the side of the Omni Centre is also apt and will provide a fitting start to the trophy’s journey around Scotland. I would encourage everyone get out there to see this iconic trophy and to find out why Scotland is the Home of Golf!”

The Ryder Cup Trophy will visit the following locations:

4th September, Edinburgh Omni Centre, 10am to 7pm

7th September, Roxburghe Golf Club, Scottish Borders, the location of the first legacy events for The 2014 Ryder Cup, the

Scottish Seniors Open in 2003, 10am to 12pm

7th September, St Medan Golf Club, Dumfries & Galloway, the most Southerly ClubGolf participant, 12.40pm to 4pm

8th September, Machrihanish Dunes, Argyll, Golf Environment Certified and extremely proactive in promoting Scottish tourism, 9.30am to 11:30am

8th September, Isle of Harris Golf Club, first ClubGolf programme in The Western Isles, 1pm to 4pm

9th September, Whalsay Golf Club, Shetland, Most Northerly and Easterly ClubGolf programme in Scotland, 10am to 11.30pm

9th September, Braemar Golf Club, Aberdeenshire, the highest golf club in the UK, 1.30pm to 4pm

10th September, Gleneagles Hotel, host of The 2014 Ryder Cup