Scottish golf clubs offering free round to overseas visitors

Golfing legend Sam Torrance and Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond have joined in a call for fans of golf to come to Scotland this year.

One hundred clubs around the country are offering free round of golf for four to fans from all over the world, in the first phase of this promotion that is part of Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Eight thousand visitors could take advantage of the offerings made so far, with their spending while in-country amounting to as much as £14.3 million, according to estimates by VisitScotland. Figures indicate that the average international golfer spend around £1790 on each trip.

The 450 golfing clubs in Scotland are being asked to take part as well, launching the second phase of the “Drive It Home” scheme, which will be launched next month.

Each participating club agrees to underwrite the cost of a game for four to entice players to visit Scotland.

So far, more than 2,000 golfers from Canada, Sweden and the US – who were targeted in the initial marketing – signed up within seven days of the advertising launch.

First Minister Salmond has said that the scheme would help people abroad satisfy their fascination with Scottish golf.

www.homecomingscotland.com