Ambitious initiativeaims totapinto youngtalent

FORGET THE Race to Dubai, Perth and Kinross County Golf Association has teed-up its own Race to Kingsbarns aimed at emerging talent.

With the Junior Ryder Cup being hosted by Blairgowrie Golf Club in September, the initiative is designed to encourage Junior golfers to take part in the numerous club open tournaments held across the county.

All junior golfers in the county — and in other regions across Scotland — are being offered the opportunity to enter junior opens in the county for just £5 per junior open or just £40 for eight or more.

In all, there are 13 opens being held at courses like Rosemount, King James VI, Crieff, Auchterarder and Kinross.

At just £5 per open, the scheme offers a subsidised rate of £40 for all 13 opens.

Sponsored by the Blue Group, every open will carry Order of Merit points in both scratch and handicap sections where, after all the junior opens have been played, the top 12 in both sections will be invited to play the worldrenowned Kingsbarns Championship course, venue of the Dunhill Cup, to play in the 2014 Grand Finale.

Barrie Douglas, president of Perth and Kinross County Golf Association, said: “This is an ambitious initiative and we would encourage all junior golfers to participate in a unique opportunity”