Ever dreamed of teeing off alongside a Ryder Cup legend? As part of Scotland's biggest ever golf promotion, Drive it Home, you could win a fantastic trip to Scotland, the Home of Golf, to play with champion golfer Sam Torrance on one of his all-time favourite courses. And when Scotland hosts the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in 2014, you can say you've been there, done that, played a round with the one and only Sam Torrance.
February saw Drive it Home offer over 250 tee times throughout Scotland at over 50 of the country's top courses, while April will provide the opportunity to win a trip to July's Open Championship in its 150th anniversary year. Visit www.driveithomescotland.com to win a round with Sam Torrance or tickets to the Open Championship.
Scotland is undeniably the Home of Golf, with over 550 courses to choose from and having pioneered the game from as early as the 15 century. From the iconic courses of St Andrews and the coastal links of Aberdeenshire, Morayshire and Ayrshire, to the challenges Dalmahoy and Gleneagles, Scotland's golf courses provide the experience of a lifetime for golfers.
Sam Torrance, VisitScotland's golf ambassador, said, ‘The Drive It Home promotion is the perfect reason for international golfers to visit the Home of Golf in 2010. Scotland is the undisputed ‘Home of Golf'. We have the best courses in the world and facilities that are second to none and will again be firmly on the golfing map this year with the 150th anniversary of the Open Championship. Scotland has over 550 courses the length and breadth of the country, the difficulty golfers have when visiting is choosing their favourite!'
This year's Drive it Home campaign website harnesses the support and enthusiasm of hundreds of partners across Scottish tourism, including 60 accommodation providers and travel operators. With free tee times up for grabs at over 50 of Scotland's courses, and a range of associated discounts and deals, this year's biggest golf push is on course to persuade even more golfers to ‘Drive It Home'.
Top Ten facts to make Scotland the home of golf…
The rules of golf were first drawn up and played at Edinburgh's Leith Links in 1744.
Scotland's Castle & Whisky Country in the North East has over 52 golf courses, one for each week of the year.
The Scottish golfing season runs from the beginning of April to mid-October, but many links courses can be played throughout the year. Daylight, especially in mid-summer, continues until 10:00 PM.
Musselburgh held the world's first golf tournament for women on New Year's Day 1811.
In 1860 the 1st Open Championship was held at Prestwick and the first winner was Willie Park with a score of 174.
The first known tee to penetrate the ground was the "Perfectum" tee, for which a British patent was granted to P Ellis, a Scot, in 1892. It consisted of a rubber circle, with a metal spike to push into the ground.
Situated overlooking the Old Course, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews holds a unique position in the world game. Established in 1754 as a small private society it has evolved as a leading authority in the world game. www.randa.org
The word ‘golf' may have come from the old Scots verb ‘to gowff' meaning to strike hard.
It's the focus of many a bar-side discussion, but many would say that the most famous hole in golf is the 17th on the historic Old Course at St. Andrews.
