Scottish Golf’s 2021 schedule to be packed

SCOTTISH Golf will return to a full schedule of championships and events in 2021 after scrapping its entire 2020 programme due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The governing body for the amateur game in Scotland took the decision early in lockdown not to proceed with any championships and training programmes during the summer.

The R&A and the English Golf Union continued with their main championships, running them under strict health protocols against the virus.

Fraser Munro, head of events at Scottish Golf, said: “2020 has been a hugely difficult year for everyone, but we are looking forward to getting back out and engaging with clubs and golfers in the new year.”

At the elite level, the domestic season will open with the Scottish Girls’ Open Strokeplay Championship at Longniddry and the Boys’ at Lundin Golf Club in Fife, both on April 7-9.

The Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship will be held at Gullane in East Lothian from June 4-6, with the Men’s Amateur at Murcar Links and Portlethen, near Aberdeen, from July 27-31.

Southerness in Galloway will host the Men’s Open Strokeplay Championship from May 28-30, while the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open will be in its traditional slot from April 16-18 and played over the

Open Championship links at Royal Troon.

The matchplay version of the Scottish Boys’ Championship is being hosted by Bruntsfield Links in Edinburgh while the Girls’ will be played at Strathaven Golf Club, both in July.

For club golfers, the Scottish Medal Finals will make its debut as a combined event in 2021 with affiliated clubs invited to enter three of their top-performing male and female players from both the 2019 and 2020 season’s monthly medals into one of six regional finals taking place during May and July.

On the day of the regional final, male and female players will play alongside each other with the top six male and female qualifiers booking their place at the Home of Golf for the grand final, which will be played over the Duke’s Course on Sunday August 15.

The R&A 9-Hole Challenge will also present the chance of playing at the Open venue at Royal St George’s on the eve of the 149th championship in July, with Milnathort once again playing host to the two-day Scottish National Final on June 10-11, with four teams progressing to the final.

Club golfers can also play in the free-to-enter PING Scottish Mixed Championship, which will this year be played over former Men’s and Women’s Scottish Open venue Gullane No 1 on September 17.