The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Golf fans tee up to follow in Old Tom’ s footsteps
Golfing enthusiasts from all over the world are now making a beeline for Scotland to play a new golf trail celebrating the man widely recognised as the most important person in the history of the sport.
Luxury golf vacation operator Bonnie Wee Golf launched the Old Tom Morris Trail three months ago.
Managing director Dave Harris firmly believes the 18-course trail will soon become Scotland’s golfing equivalent of the North Coast 500, a 516-mile scenic road tour which has proved immensely popular with visitors.
Dave said: “Within the next few years, I have no doubt we will be seeing thousands of players annually from all parts of the world making a pilgrimage to Scotland to experience the delights of the trail.
“We have already had dozens of booking inquiries from lovers of the sport from as far away as Australia and the US, with significant interest also coming from golfing enthusiasts closer to home in the UK and mainland Europe.
“Some clients even want to make bookings as far in the future as 2028, which is incredible.”
Old Tom, also known as the Grand Old Man of Golf, was born in St Andrews 201 years ago. The trail allows players to retrace his steps, and is supported by VisitScotland.
The venture is expected to give a lasting boost to Scotland’s golf tourism sector – which is worth around £286 million annually and supports 4,400 jobs.
Dave was delighted to welcome US-based golf historian and author Stephen Proctor to Scotland earlier this month.
He is playing all the courses on the trail, with his final putt of the trip at Carnoustie tomorrow.
Stephen is using social networking site Twitter to give regular updates on his golfing exploits to his thousands of followers.
He said: “News of the trail being set up has already created a lot of interest among golf enthusiasts in the US. It is a brilliant idea and I’m sure it will be a smash hit for Scotland.
“This is my fourth trip to Scotland to play golf, and I love the way the wind makes the game here such an ultimate challenge.
“Scotland also has many other attractions on top of its fantastic courses, including spectacular scenery, a rich history and very friendly people.
“When I heard about Dave’s plan for the trail, I couldn’t wait to come and play all the courses.
“Old Tom Morris was a font of wisdom. He truly was a colossus of golf. Back when golf was coming of age, he was the one you contacted if you wanted to build a new golf course or discuss a design.
“He was instrumental in spreading the Scottish game around the world, and it is fitting that golfers from all over the world can now retrace his steps.”
The trail includes some of Scotland’s most spectacular and challenging golf courses including Montrose, St Andrews and Crail.
Its official starting point is Askernish on South Uist, while the official end point is Machrihanish on the Mull of Kintyre.
However, the trail allows golfers of all levels to play in any order they like and has been designed to encourage golfers to return on at least one more occasion to complete the trail.
Golfers can collect a commemorative coin for each course they visit during the Old Tom Morris Trail, and those who book the trail through Bonnie Wee Golf will receive a coin for each course played as part of their package.
Dave, who set up Bonnie Wee Golf around 20 years ago, said Scottish golf tourism has been booming following the worst of the pandemic being over.