YOUNG Scottish professional golfer Hannah McCook has joined European Tour star Paul Lawrie in becoming a Golf Ambassador to the world-famous Gleneagles, the Scottish hotel and sporting estate.
The move supports the iconic Perthshire venue's plans to inspire more young people, school children and women to take up the game, and comes just months before it hosts the Solheim Cup, the biggest event in ladies' golf.
McCook, 25, was born in Aberdeen and raised in Strathspey and was one of Scotland's leading amateur players, winning three consecutive Scottish Golf Ladies Order of Merit titles before transitioning to the pro ranks this year.
She joins 1999 Open champion Lawrie as an ambassador, at a time when the award-winning 850-acre Perthshire estate prepares to celebrate the Centenary of its Top 100-ranked championship courses, The King's and The Queen's, designed by James Braid.
Gleneagles hosts the 16th edition of The Solheim Cup this September on the Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary Course, which hosted the Ryder Cup in 2014.
Hannah, who was previously a member at Gleneagles during her Sports Studies degree course at The University of Stirling, said: "I'm incredibly proud to be representing both Scotland and Gleneagles as a professional golfer. Gleneagles holds a special place in my heart and to now be a golf ambassador for such an iconic Scottish brand is a dream come true."
Gary Silcock, Director of Golf at Gleneagles, commented: "In a year when Gleneagles welcomes the biggest event in women's golf to Perthshire, it seems fitting that we announce a new partnership with Hannah, one of Scotland's female golfing talents of the future.
"Her emotional attachment to Gleneagles means she understands our golf proposition perfectly.
"We have a strong desire to inspire and encourage more young people, school children and women to take up the game and Hannah's energy and enthusiasm will help us achieve this."
McCook, above, will initially focus her tournament play on the Ladies European Tour Access Series, with the aim of progressing onto the main Ladies European Tour. She also continues to work with the SportScotland Institute of Sport and PGA personal coach, David Torrance.
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