Carnoustie given press pack praise

World’s journalists pleased to receive warm Angus hospitality at event

While the Open attracted a record 172,000 visitors into Angus itself, hundreds of millions more around the globe watched the event on TV or online. More than 600 journalists from a broad range of media gathered daily to relay the highs and lows of each round to the world. The Courier spoke to some of the international journalists and commentators to ask their thoughts on Carnoustie and the experience they have had. Michael Collins from Florida, a correspondent for ESPN.com was full of praise for the welcome he received in Angus, saying: “Although I have covered a number of Open Championships, this is my first time at Carnoustie. “I love Scotland, and Scottish culture, and I love the food, it is the only place I eat haggis and black pudding. “People have been really welcoming and friendly – absolutely amazing. “I’m also a little bit of a Scotch drinker, and this is just the area to hit the spot and find your thing.” “I also love the unpredictable weather here. “In Florida it is consistently hot, but here it can be really warm one minute, and pouring rain the next, although my only thing is the lack of air conditioning here!” Brendan James from Golf Australia also enjoyed the event. He said: “I’ve played the course before so it’s great to come and see it as part of the Open. “The people have been great and I really enjoy Carnoustie, with its narrow streets. “Although a lot of people are staying in Dundee and further afield, I encouraged people to go into the town.” Veteran golf writer and enthusiast Dove Jones from the Golf Press Association which has a readership of more than 300,000 highlighted the benefits of Carnoustie saying: “It’s a fabulous town, and it’s also a much better launch pad for golf than people give it credit for, especially for Swedes and Germans who play a lot of the smaller courses, and you have great courses nearby, such as Monifieth and Montrose. “I think it also makes economic sense for golf visitors to make their base in Carnoustie and travel to St Andrews rather than the other way round, as you have good quality accommodation here, so you can have a fabulous golf experience in Scotland.” Dove also praised the efforts of local people to prepare the town and the welcome she and colleagues had received.

The inside of the media tent where TV, radio, print and online media from across the world provided coverage of the Open.