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The calendar moves inexorably through another year, another sporting year, another golf year and the media launches into its traditional reviews, critical assessments and worst of all the endless awards. For all us strictly amateur golfers this review process is of course a never ending challenge to be dealt with week to week, round by round, even hole by hole.
We are determined to remember the best golf courses played and our best golf shots but frustratingly haunted by the poor shots, the three putts and the blown finish resulting in missing out on that club medal, close fought final or just the Saturday sweep. There is always next season.
2024 … Another big year for Scottish golf certainly but what are your golf goals on a personal level ?
Could it be breaking 80 for the first time or breaking 70 ?
Possibly a bogey free round or that elusive first hole in one ?
Qualifying for your club championship; or winning your club championship ?
Of course I am biased but hopefully many of you are considering visiting Scotland on a much promised fully tailored golf tour and we would be delighted to welcome you and your fellow travellers to our golf mad little country.
My own golf plans for 2024 are fairly varied but at this early stage include taking some lessons from my club Pro before the season starts, play more golf with the members of The 1457 Society, purchase a persimmon driver, play a couple of bucket list courses,play in a couple of open competitions including the Askernish Open and make return visits to play Royal Dornoch, Cabot Highlands, Carnoustie, Dumbarnie and North Berwick.
Please be advised this list is subject to change at regular intervals.
So what about the major golf events in Scotland this year as many of you may want to consider organising your golf tour around these exciting occasions.
The Open Championship https://www.theopen.com/will once again be contested over the Old Course at Royal Troon Golf Club.https://www.royaltroon.co.uk/
Certainly the world of mens professional golf has undergone significant upheaval in the years since Phil Mickelson and eventual winner and Champion Golfer of the year Henrik Stenson produced an epic final round battle for the Claret Jug in 2016.
The golf world will focus attention on the west coast of Scotland and we will be working hard to ensure our visitors and clients from around the world get to challenge their golf game on a fine collection of nearby links courses including the birthplace of The Open at Prestwick GC, the highly rated Western Gailes, its neighbour Glasgow Gailes plus Barassie, Dundonald, West Kilbride, Prestwick St Nicholas and further south at the superb Open Championship venue Turnberry.
Following the success of this year’s event we are all hoping good sense will prevail, the key sponsors get on board and that Dundonald Links https://dundonaldlinks.com/ will again play host to The Scottish Women’s Open. If and when dates are confirmed I would thoroughly recommend attending as you are guaranteed to witness fantastic golf by some of the best players in the women’s game.
Dundonald continues to improve and impress every new season with the superb new clubhouse and on-site lodges proving a magnet for visiting tour parties.
Scotland’s east coast will certainly not be left out for the 2024 season.
Prior to The Open Championship week, Renaissance Club will once again be host venue for The Scottish Open.
Now established as a favourite Open warm up event for any of the pros, the 2023 tournament provided a dramatic finish with Rory McIlroy just edging out Scotsman and now Ryder Cup winner Robert MacIntyre.
Following on from The Open, the mighty Carnoustie Championship https://www.carnoustiegolflinks.com/ course will be the venue for this year’s Seniors Open taking place between 25th & 28th July.
AIG Womens Open https://www.aigwomensopen.com/ is now recognised as one of the most important dates on the professional golf calendar.In recent years the championship has been held at Royal Troon, Carnoustie and Muirfield.
Therefore it is not any surprise that over 4 days ( 22 – 25th August ) the 2024 tournament will be contested over the most historic links of them all The Old Course, St Andrews.
If the fantastic atmosphere that was generated at the 2023 Walker Cup is any indication then the AIG Womens Open could be a very special occasion at The Home of Golf.
The combination of hosting the finest men & women golfers to compete over our famous links golf courses plus the resultant demand from passionate international golf travellers keen to challenge themselves on these same golf layouts continues to drive investment across the Scottish golf marketplace.
A fantastic exciting new golf year ahead in 2024.
“ We wish all of you good health, good fortune and remember to play more golf.”