Open at St Andrews was worth record £140m to Scots economy
THE Open Championship gave Scotland a £140 million economic boost last year, research has revealed, a record amount for a golfing tournament in the UK and Ireland.
St Andrews, which is known around the world as the “home of golf”, hosted the 144th Open in July, with American Zach Johnson winning the famous Claret Jug trophy.
Spectator admissions topped more than 237,000 over the course of the event, with 93,000 sports fans flocking to the Fife town for the event, including 26,400 from overseas.
A study, commissioned by tournament organisers the R&A, showed spending by visitors to Scotland for the tournament generated £88m, almost twice the total of £47.5m that was raised the last time the Open was held at the Old Course in 2010.
Separate research by Kantar Media Sport Intelligence suggested the event, which was broadcast to more than 500 million homes worldwide, generated a further £52m in marketing benefit. The economic impact assessment, carried out by Sheffield Hallam University’s sport industry research centre, estimated the economic benefit to the Fife area alone was about £52m.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “We all know that golf and its origins are synonymous with Scotland but these excellent figures show that the connection between the game and its spiritual home is as strong and productive as ever.
“It is always a special homecoming for players and spectators alike when The Open returns to the Old Course – they have the opportunity to experience not only one of the finest courses in the world, but also take in such a stunning setting on the Fife coast.
“Hosting such events is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Scotland internationally as the perfect stage for events as well as generating spend for local businesses, restaurants and hotels, and the wider Scottish economy.”
The Open is golf’s oldest major championship, with the event dating back to 1860. For the first time since 1988, play at the tournament was extended for an extra day, due to poor weather conditions.
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: “The R&A brings The Open to Scotland more often than to any other part of the United Kingdom and we are delighted that a long association with Visit Scotland produces measurable and sustained benefits for the Scottish economy.”