Published: Thursday, 17th July, 2008 08:15
Golf heritage to the fore
Print Article
TOWN leaders are planning a drive to market the Honest Toun internationally as a haven of golfing heritage.
Community council vice-chair Alan Hay, said that the Scottish Government’s ‘Homecoming 2009’ project – which aims to boost the number of ex-pats holidaying in the country – could provide a platform to promote Musselburgh as the “cradle of golf”.
“For a town which has held the Open Championships six times and reared five men who have won the event, we should be looking at entrepreneurial initiatives like golf tours and market the town abroad.” he said.
“We also have the oldest regularly played golf course in the world. That will entice golfers here and we should capitalise on that.”
He requested that Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill – who attended last Tuesday’s meeting of the community council – “has a word in the ear” of First Minister Alex Salmond to further Musselburgh’s cause as a key destination for foreign golfers.
Mr Hay later said he was urging VisitScotland to include footage of the Old Course nine-hole course and commentary highlighting the town’s golfing legacy in a national tourism video.
It was noted by the community council that Queen Margaret University had previously offered a unique postgraduate course in golf and country club management, while Loretto School operate a flourishing golf academy, illustrating that local ties with the sport were abundant.
A council spokesperson said Musselburgh has been promoted internationally as a golfing destination through the East Lothian Golf Alliance since 2004 but would be marketed individually for ‘Homecoming Scotland 2009’.
Details would be revealed in the next few months, she added.
Addressing a full council meeting to discuss proposed modifications to the finalised East Lothian Local Plan on June 24, Musselburgh East and Carberry councillor, Roger Knox, lamented how the Old Course was often overlooked in overseas promotion.
He said:“It’s a matter of some regret that the various marketing efforts of the golf lobby – and I don’t include the council on this – continually leave out the Old Course.
“There’s a plethora of overseas visitors to the golfing facilities of East Lothian. Those who come to the Old Course are attracted not by the course per say, but by other cultural attractions in the area. ”
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Further Details
Courier’s first move in 149 years