Ending the fear is the key to growing golf

Martin Gilbert, the chair of Scottish Golf, says “growing the game again” in the sport’s birthplace needs to start by eradicating the “fear” of joining golf club

The Scottish Women’s Open is set to go from “strength to strength” under its new title sponsors, says Martin Gilbert, who played a key part in its status being elevated.

Mainly through Gilbert, a combination of 12 stagings of the tournament took place under the Aberdeen Asset Management and Aberdeen Standard Investments banners.

However, that run came to an end following last year’s edition at The Renaissance Club in East Lothian, with Trust Golf, part of the Thai-based TCT Corporation, stepping in as the new title sponsor for the 2021 event at a new venue, Dumbarnie Links in Fife, in August.

That tournament will take place the week before the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie, as has been the case since Gilbert helped the Scottish Women’s Open secure a slot on the LPGA schedule.

“Yes, it was,” he replied to being asked if it had been slightly disappointing for Aberdeen Standard Investments’ support of the event to come to an end shortly after he stepped down as chairman last September. “I spoke to Stephen Bird, who is the CEO, about it. There was a lot of budgetary pressure there and the men’s event had a longer contract, so that’s what drove it.

“But I’m glad to see they’ve got a new sponsor and I think the event will go from strength to strength again. The position it has in the calendar is fantastic.”

American Stacey Lewis won the final edition of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, with other previous champions including Catriona Matthew and Carly Booth.