Carnoustie’s big day in spotlight arrives

The eyes of the world are on Angus today as Carnoustie steps into the spotlight to stage one of the biggest events in world sport. Years of preparation have gone into bringing the 147th Open Championship to the town and the arrival of the leading names in golf this week has raised the sense of anticipation to near fever pitch.

Hosting an event on this scale does not come without some disruption and many residents of Carnoustie will no doubt be yearning for a returm to the normality of empty roads and hassle-free parking.

But for now let us hope that everyone can enjoy the carnival atmosphere and keep an eye on the bigger prize.

Some estimates suggest the competition could bring an economic boost of £60 million to the area.

Hotels, guest houses across Angus and beyond to Dundee, Perth and Kinross and Fife are filled with golf fans while restaurants, pubs, shops and visitor attractions can expect to do a roaring trade.

And the spin-offs could continue for years to come. Golf tourism is said to account for £183 million of visitor expenditure to Scotland, as well as supporting 4,700 jobs – many of them in rural areas, where the game provides a vital source of employment.

Football may not have come home this summer but golf is very much back in its birthplace. Let’s give it and its followers a welcome they will never forget.