Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison, today (Friday 26 August) celebrated Gleneagles’ inaugural £5 Friday at the Johnnie Walker Championship together with young children benefitting from the clubgolf programme.
As the venue for the Johnnie Walker Championship and the Host Venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup, The Gleneagles Hotel is one of the strongest supporters of golf in Scotland. That support has been increased this year with the introduction of today’s ‘£5 Friday’.
Gleneagles will donate all the revenue from today’s ticket sales to clubgolf, Scotland’s junior golf development programme which so far this year has introduced 37,790 children to the game through its schools’ introductory programme, firstclubgolf.
Speaking at the clubgolf coaching area today, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison said: “£5 Friday is an excellent initiative which will enable spectators at the Johnnie Walker Championship to play their part in supporting the clubgolf programme.
“The revenue raised from £5 Friday ticket sales and donated by The Gleneagles Hotel will help clubgolf in its continued drive to reach out to clubs and schools and provide opportunities for aspiring young players."
Patrick Elsmie, Managing Director of the AA Five Star resort, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome so many aspiring junior players to Gleneagles this week. It is important to us that, as a high profile golfing venue and the Host Venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup, we help to create opportunities for the next generation of players and this support for clubgolf allows us to do that.
‘The Johnnie Walker Championship is a tremendous tournament and enjoys great support from players and spectators alike. By taking this initiative with the ticket price today, we hope that many more spectators have been encouraged to come along and enjoy a great golfing spectacle and the magnificent setting here in Perthshire while supporting the development of the game in Scotland.’
This week Gleneagles plays host to more than 200 children from clubgolf programmes. Each child attending will have the opportunity to practise their skills under the eye of PGA professionals and qualified volunteer coaches in the dedicated clubgolf coaching area and watch the professionals in action on the course.
Said clubgolf Manager, Jackie Davidson: “We are delighted that The Gleneagles Hotel has created £5 Friday as a further commitment to clubgolf.
“Gleneagles already makes a huge impact to our programme through its fabulous opportunities for our young players. Hundreds of clubgolfers benefit from coaching clinics every year during the Johnnie Walker Championship and many more take up the offer of tee times on the Wee Course throughout the season.
“In addition to investment we are now receiving from the Royal Bank of Scotland and Highland Spring, Gleneagles’ further support through £5 Friday will enable us to invest and reach our ambitious targets in clubs and schools, ensuring clubgolf leaves a lasting legacy beyond the 2014 Ryder Cup.”
Tickets are available at the course and atwww.europeantourtickets.com. Parking is free.
For full details on the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles visitwww.johnniewalkerchampionship.com
For further details on The Gleneagles Hotel, visitwww.gleneagles.com
For further information on clubgolf visit:www.clubgolfscotland.com
