2017 Dunhill Championship to provide big tourism boost

Celebrities and professional golfers arrive to take part in tournament

Hundreds are expected to descend on some of the area’s prestigious golf courses as the 17th Alfred Dunhill Links Championship tees off.

The world-famous courses at St Andrews and Kingsbarns and the 2018 Open Championship venue, Carnoustie, will play host to professionals and celebrities as they compete over the next four days, raising money for the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation.

Famous faces competing for the team trophy include musicians Mike Rutherford from Genesis, Dave Farrell from Linkin Park and Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres.

They will be joined by actors including Jamie Dornan and Greg Kinnear, while Dragon’s Den’s Peter Jones, Sir Steve Redgrave, jockey Sir A P McCoy and former Irish rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll will also be among those taking part.

Among the professionals, Tyrell Hatton will be aiming to defend his title from stars of the global game including former Open Champion Paul Lawrie and Rory McIlroy.

The event marks the professional home debut of Walker Cup star, Connor Syme, who is based at Drumoig Golf Centre near St Andrews and turned professional in mid-September.

Stephen Owen, chairman of the Fife Golf Partnership, said the Dunhill will cap a fantastic year for golf in the kingdom in particular.

“It’s been another wonderful year for golf in Fife, with a highlight being the hosting of the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns Golf Links,” he said.

The Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie host the first three days of the championship from today until Saturday, with the final round being played over the Old Course on Sunday.

Fife Tourism Partnership’s tourism manager, Ann Camus, said: “The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is one of the highlights of the year, and it’s fantastic to see so many famous faces competing in the team tournament to raise funds for the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation”.

Picture: Kris Miller. Former Scotland defender, Match of the Day pundit and keen golfer Alan Hansen, centre, visited Dundee West FC yesterday. Hansen, who is competing in this week’s Dunhill Cup, met some of the team’s coaches and young players. Dundee West provides...

Picture: Getty Images. Baywatch actress Kelly Rohrbach in action on the Old Course.

Picture: Steven Brown. Private jets that brought some of the competitors.

Picture: Dougie Nicolson. Carnoustie Golf Club captain Bill Thompson with the US Open Championship trophy and US Open Championship winning medals from 1906 and 1910 that feature in the collection of golf memorabilia from Alex Smith and Macdonald Smith from Carnoustie.