Golf clubs in the Scottish Highlands have set their sights on making the region a ‘must visit golfing destination.
Golfers from home and abroad are already extending their stay during bucket list trips to Royal Dornoch, Nairn and Cabot Highland at Castle Stuart in Inverness.
That trend has prompted Brora Golf Club to appoint Royal Dornoch’s head PGA coaching professional Gary Dingwall to the newly created post of director of golf, with their long-time pro Malcolm Murray taking-up the general manager position at Tain Golf Club and Simon Pope being lured from Cleeve Hill in Gloucestershire to join Golspie as its general manager.
Neil Hampton, general manager at Royal Dornoch and a founding member of the Golf Highland group, has welcomed the ambitious appointments and career moves involving home-grown managerial talent.
“It’s great to see clubs like Brora, Golspie and Tain creating these senior management roles to build on the success they have been enjoying in recent years and to modernise their operations,” said Neil. “From a Highland perspective it is positive to see key roles being filled by candidates like Gary and Malcolm who have been part of the golfing fabric in the region for many years.
“The Highland clubs work together closely as we seek to encourage even more golfers to base themselves here for the golf, the scenery and outdoor life, and our hotels and restaurants.
“Gary was with us at Royal Dornoch for 23 years, latterly as our head PGA teaching pro, while Malcolm was head professional for more than 10 years at Brora, where he was born and bred, after a spell at a driving range and shop in Glasgow.
“Malcolm, who studied golf management at the University of the Highlands and Islands, started his management development programme last year at Brora and will continue on that path in his new role at Tain.
“Gary has played a big part in various aspects of Royal Dornoch’s development and along with teaching pro Ally McNaughton, his work with our youngsters was recognised with the UK Club of the Year award two years ago.”
Golspie’s new general manager, Simon, has been lured to the Highlands from south of the border.
A recent Golf Highland survey underlined the importance of golf tourism to the region, with an estimated £60 million spent annually on green fees, merchandise, transport, food and beverage by visitors lured by our wonderful array of golf courses.
“It’s not just the world-famous courses here that have set their sights high,” stressed Neil. “Golf Highland also represents nine-hole community clubs and others which add value to any trip to the region, and these new roles at Brora, Tain and Golspie reinforce the message of just how ambitious we are when it comes to maximising the economic benefits of golf tourism.”