Scotland prepares
for a year of big
tournaments and
worldwide coverage,
writes Kevin
Markham
Scotland has been home to so many major golf
tournaments over the years. The Open Championship
looms largest, with the oldest of golf’s Majors hosted
at seven Scottish clubs since it was first held at
Prestwick in 1860, but there have been many other
events from the annual Scottish Open to the Ryder
Cup (1973 and 2014) and Solheim Cup (1992, 2000).
And 2019 will be a very special year as well, even if
the Open Championship has returned to Northern
Ireland for the first time since 1951.
Yes, Scotland is the home of golf so it is little wonder
that such tournaments grace its shores but that
doesn’t mean every tournament is welcomed with
anything less than enthusiasm and pride. That will be
seen during 2019, too, when The Renaissance Club
hosts the Men’s and Women’s Scottish Opens (in
July and August, respectively). And then there’s the
Solheim Cup, which will be held at Gleneagles, from
13-15 September. This is the third time the Cup has
been contested in Scotland, and it will be played on
the Centenary course where Europe won the Ryder
Cup in 2014. There are 100,000 tickets being sold for
the clash of Europe vs. USA, with spectators expected
from across Europe in what will undoubtedly be
a family-friendly affair (kids go free). Check out
Scottish Open at Dundonald Links
solheimcup2019.com for more information and tickets.
Volume 4 • Issue 47
57