Press release -
Iconic Ryder Cup Trophy to visit “four corners of Scotland”
The Ryder Cup Trophy is to visit ‘the four corners of Scotland’ on an Official Trophy Tour which began yesterday. Teeing off at Edinburgh’s OMNI Centre on Thursday 4th September, members of the public and pupils from Leith Walk Primary School grabbed the opportunity to get up close and personal with one of the world’s most recognisable sporting trophies.
The Ryder Cup Trophy will now travel by helicopter over the following few days 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 take in the nation’s spectacular scenery at the most Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western courses participating in the ClubGolf programme. The wider legacy of The 2014 Ryder Cup is also important with participating courses also being chosen for their tourism and environmental connections.
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 also incorporated 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.”
Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland 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 provided 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
For more information on the event and to keep track of the Official Trophy Tour follow @rydercup or like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RyderCupEuropeanTeam
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- ryder cup
- corporate communications
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors:
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation has three key roles:
- To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract visitors
- To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to Scotland
- To provide quality assurance to visitors and quality advice to the industry and partners to help the industry meet and strive to exceed customer expectations
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- 2014 is the year Scotland welcomes the world, when it hosts the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and more than 800 Homecoming events throughout the country.For more information on Homecoming Scotland 2014, go to www.visitscotland.com
- The VisitScotland Information Centre network is a unique face-to-face channel engaging with around five million visitors and locals each year. Everyone who uses a VisitScotland Information Centre goes on to spend an additional £5.35, generating over £24 million for Scotland’s economy.
- According to a recent Deloitte study, tourism employs 270,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the industry contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
- For more information on VisitScotland’s annual review please go to www.visitscotland.org/about_us/our_focus/annual_report.aspx
