Pitlochry club wins top tourism award
‘Hidden gem’is making remarkable recovery
A Highland Perthshire golf club is celebrating winning a major accolade at the fifth annual Scottish Golf Tourism Awards held at the Fairmont St Andrews.
Five years after fears were raised for the future of Pitlochry GC, which dates back to 1909, it has been hailed as the country’s “Best Course Under £50”.
Last year, local company RW Bell Electrical took over the reins and the scenic club has been going from strength to strength.
“It is fantastic for the golf club. It shows we are doing something right,” said company managing director Steve Carruthers, whose ties to the golf club stretch back 45 years.
“We have great facilities but Pitlochry is all about the course, it is our biggest asset.
“We have always been considered a bit of a hidden gem. Hopefully awards like this will mean less of the hidden.
“It recognises Pitlochry is a very good golf course and one in excellent condition. It is continually improving.
“A few years ago an American Representatives from Pitlochry pick up the award
golf writer said we were the best golf course under 6000 yards in the world. Wow! That was quite an accolade.
“Around 65 per cent of our income is reliant on visitors so awards like this are a huge plus in terms of upping our profile. Without visitors there would be no golf course.
“Our membership has also been growing, to around the 360 mark, so we are bucking
the national trend. It has been a good year for us, meaning we are breaking even.
“That was the aim when RW Bell took over the reins.
“It was maybe more of an emotional decision than business one to get involved directly but I knew how valuable an asset the golf course was to the Pitlochry area.
“Not so long ago the possibility was that there would be a couple of greenkeepers cutting grass, an honesty box and maybe even just the nine holes.
“So I got involved in 2010, first with Pitlochry Golf Ltd and then RW Bell when we took over a year past January.
“It means a lot to me. It is in my DNA.
“As a business we are one of the biggest in the area and we want the community to have good assets.
“Now the facilities include a great nine holes at Blair Atholl, a fabulous practice set-up and popular wee six-hole course, with the clubhouse and pro shop open year-round for our members and visitors.
“It has been a great team effort, with Niall McGill of Noah’s Ark Golf Centre and pro Wallace Booth, together with our manager Mike Winton making an immediate impact in enhancing the experience.
“But I have no doubt the single biggest factor in this Perthshire success story was appointing Stuart Griffiths as course manager.
“He has a wealth of experience, having spent five years at an Open venue, Carnoustie, with Blair Atholl, Tain, Letham Grange and Hankley Common in Surrey also featuring on an impressive CV.
“We only have five in the greenkeeping team, covering 33 holes and driving range over two sites, so the job Stuart has done has been unbelievable given the budget and terrain he has to work with.”
Murrayshall Country House Hotel was also celebrating success at the Scottish Golf Tourism Awards, winning the Best Hotel (21–50 rooms) prize.