2016 calendar of events unveiled

Entries now open for Scottish Golf national championships

By Ed Hodge

Entries have opened for Scottish Golf’s national championships in 2016 as the new governing body looks forward to hosting its first amalgamated calendar of events.

In total, Scottish Golf is to stage 22 national championships this season, visiting a wide variety of venues across the country to make up an exciting schedule for the year for both male and female golfers.

From Open Championship layouts and hidden gems, to leading European Tour venues and local favourites, players of all ages and abilities will be offered the chance to shine.

OPTIMISE

For the first time since 2012, Scottish Golf also plays host to the Men’s Home Internationals in August as The Nairn Golf Club welcomes the annual team contest, sponsored by Fairstone Financial Management.

Daniel Sommerville, Events Manager for Scottish Golf, said: “We are looking forward to a great season as a newly amalgamated body, visiting some top-class venues across our championship schedule including Royal Aberdeen, Gullane, West Kilbride and Royal Troon, which also hosts the Open Championship in 2016.
“We are very grateful to all of our host venues for the support they give to Scottish Golf. There is an ongoing review of all championships as we look to optimise the schedule for the future
of Scottish Golf and all participants in our events.”

At individual level, the mixed Scottish Junior Tour Under-18 event at Forrester Park at the end of March offers the perfect warm-up for the Scottish Girls’ Open Championship and the Scottish Boys’ Amateur Championship, which returns to Murcar Links from April 4-9, a venue that will also play host to the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play on the European Tour for a second time in August.

QUEST

Scotland’s leading girls’ players tee off their quest for success at Strathmore in early April ahead of the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Championship, an event that reaches its conclusion at this year’s Open Championship venue, Royal Troon.

Last year’s venue for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, Gullane No.1, welcomes the Carrick Neill Scottish Men’s Open Strokeplay Championship in late May while, over on the west coast, the Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship takes place at West Kilbride.

Other highlights see Spire Edinburgh Hospitals remain the title sponsor of the Scottish Senior Men’s Open Championship, which takes place at Glasgow (Killermont) in June, while the Scottish Boys’ U16 Open Championship will be held at West Lothian in July.

Another recent host of the Scottish Open, Royal Aberdeen, plays hosts to the Scottish Men’s Amateur Championship from July 25-30, as Robert MacIntyre seeks to defend his title.

Two Lothians venues, Baberton and Craigielaw, stage the Scottish Girls’ Amateur Championship and Loretto School Scottish Boys’ and Girls’ U14 Open Championship respectively, while the GolfKings Scottish Men’s Area Team Championship heads for Marriott Dalmahoy in early September.

Meanwhile, following the success of the Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Grand Final in Turkey earlier this month, Scottish Golf’s Handicap Championships for 2016 will be announced shortly.

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