Kingsbarns wins best course award
4th November, 2011 by Colin Victor
Kingsbarns Golf Links has been named Scottish ‘Golf Course of the Year’ at the Golf Tourism Scotland’s (GTS) Gold Standard Awards at Fairmont St Andrews.
This year’s gala evening saw the presentation of 11 awards including a ‘Special Achievement’ gong for the former secretary of Prestwick Golf Club, Ian Bunch.
Kingsbarns was named best course for the fourth time ahead of some of the leading courses in Scotland including Balcomie Links (Crail), the Carnoustie Championship Course, Castle Stuart Golf Links, Gullane No 2, Machrihanish Dunes, the New Course, St Andrews, North Berwick West Links, Pitlochry, the Old Course St Andrews, the Torrance Course (Fairmont St Andrews), the Ailsa Course at Turnberry and Western Gailes.
Alan Hogg, chief executive of Kingsbarns Golf Links, said: “We are delighted to receive such a prestigious award from the Scottish golf industry. We have had excellent customer feedback throughout the season but it is fantastic to learn that the industry rates Kingsbarns so highly as well.
“To win the ‘Golf Course of the Year’ award is a great tribute to the Kingsbarns´ team of staff who have been working really hard all year to deliver the course in top class condition and to provide excellent customer service. The natural beauty and outstanding quality of the golf course make Kingsbarns a special place but it is the people who add the extra dimension to the whole Kingsbarns experience.”
Elsewhere, in the accommodation provider category, Fairmont St Andrews was named the country’s top resort and Crail Golfing Society received the ‘Golf Secretariat’ award.
“This year’s awards reflect a busy year of events that have showcased the breadth and depth of Scotland’s golfing sector,” noted GTS chairman Lee Derrick. “Many of the world’s leading amateur and professional players battled it out over courses across Scotland providing great opportunities to show the world what we do best. The industry as a whole benefits from these occasions, so with more high profile events scheduled for next year, including the Seniors’ Open at Turnberry, The Scottish Open returning to Castle Stuart and The Curtis Cup at The Nairn Golf Club, these are undoubtedly exciting times for golf in Scotland.”
Martin Roy of Carnoustie Golf Links clinched the ‘Caddiemaster of the Year’ accolade.
The full list of winners were:
GOLF COURSE OF THE YEAR: Kingsbarns Golf Links
GOLF SECRETARIAT OF THE YEAR: Crail Golfing Society
CADDIEMASTER OF THE YEAR: Martin Roy, Carnoustie Golf Links
HOTEL OF THE YEAR (Small hotel/guest house category): Old Loans Inn, Troon
HOTEL OF THE YEAR (Country house hotel category): Meldrum House County Hotel, Aberdeenshire
HOTEL OF THE YEAR (Large hotel category): Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, St Andrews
HOTEL OF THE YEAR (Resort hotel category): Fairmont St Andrews
GOLF TOUR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR: Golf Scotland
TRANSPORT OPERATOR OF THE YEAR: St Andrews Executive Travel
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Ian Bunch
YOUNG INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR: Simon Redmond, Macdonald Rusacks Hotel and Valerie Houston, formerly of the Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch