Highland courses form part of new Scottish golf trail
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A NEW Scottish golf trail has tee'd off in honour of a golfing legend.
The Old Tom Morris Trail is welcomed as a boost for tourism recovery as it will allow golfers from home and abroad to retrace the steps of the world-renowned Grand Old Man of Golf.
The Old Tom Morris Trail – across some of Scotland’s most spectacular and challenging courses – commemorates the great man’s unrivalled influence on the game.
VisitScotland is supporting the attraction and has welcomed the launch of the new 18-course golfing trail saying it would play a role in supporting the recovery of Scotland’s international golf tourism in a hugely significant year for the sport in Scotland.
St Andrews-born Old Tom is globally recognised as the most important person in the history of golf. During the 19th Century, he did more than any other to spread the appeal of golf, travelling the length and breadth of Britain and Ireland designing course after course.
The Old Tom Morris Trail has been created by Aberdeen-based luxury golf vacation operator Bonnie Wee Golf.
Managing director Dave Harris said: “Old Tom Morris was such a huge figure in golf. What better way to pay tribute to the legend than to create a unique trail in his honour?
“It was something we felt inspired to do during the pandemic to mark the 200th anniversary of Old Tom’s birth. We carefully selected some of the finest courses – some iconic and others hidden gems – that have all been designed or enhanced by Old Tom.”
Mr Harris set up Bonnie Wee Golf 20 years ago after working as a caddy for American tourists who couldn’t get enough of Scotland’s golf, in particular the challenge of links courses.
Bonnie Wee Golf’s range of luxury golf tours now attract more than 300 repeat clients, mainly from the US.
Mr Harris said: “The nature of our repeat business shows the allure Scotland continues to have for golfers who want to play some of the world’s best courses. Everyone’s travel plans were sadly put on hold for the last two years.
"Through the worst of the pandemic, we were repeatedly forced to postpone our clients’ trips, but now Scotland is well and truly open for business, we
know that the appetite for golf here is greater than ever.
“We are delighted and very excited to launch the Old Tom Morris Trail, allowing golfers to follow in his footsteps, and to demonstrate that Scotland really is worth waiting for.”
VisitScotland invests more than £3 million annually to support golf events and to market Scotland globally as the Home of Golf, with St Andrews playing host to the 150th Open this July.
While some golfers may be tempted to complete the Old Tom Morris Trail in one visit to Scotland, it has been designed to encourage golfers to visit on more than one occasion to complete the tour, supporting VisitScotland’s strategic aims.
Alan Grant, VisitScotland’s senior golf manager, said: “Golf is such an integral part of Scotland, with no other country able to match our history or heritage in the game. The Old Tom Morris Trail provides an excellent focus for golf visitors – from home and overseas – to sample some of our most iconic golf courses, as well as those more off the beaten track.
“By featuring some hidden gems as well as traditionally well-known courses, the trail supports our commitment to responsible tourism, to spread the benefits of golf tourism across our regions.
“Tourism is a force for good, with both economic and social benefits. Golf tourism accounts for approximately £286 million annually, supporting around 4,400 jobs. Playing golf in the great outdoors, relaxing and unwinding with friends, and enjoying the magnificent scenery and
hospitality that our country offers, is an unbeatable proposition for tourists the world over.”
US-based golf historian Stephen Proctor, author of “Monarch of the Green: Young Tom Morris – Pioneer of Modern Golf”, said: “The trail is a brilliant idea and I’m sure it will be a smash hit for Scotland. Old Tom Morris was a font of wisdom; he truly was a colossus of golf.
“Back when golf was coming of age, he was the one you contacted if you wanted to build a new golf course or discuss a design. He was an honourable man and would charge £1 per day, plus expenses, to design a course. He was instrumental in spreading the Scottish game around the
world, and it was his character that helped shape the reputation of golf as a game of honour.
“It is so wonderfully fitting that golfers from all over the world will now be able to retrace his steps. I can’t wait to visit.”
The official start of the trail is Askernish in South Uist, in the Outer Hebrides, and the official finish is Machrihanish in Kintyre.
The Tom Morris Bar & Grill in St Andrews will be the trail’s halfway house. The Old Clubhouse Pub at Machrihanish will be the official 19th Hole.
Each golfer will be gifted a unique Old Tom Morris Trail collector’s edition commemorative coin for each of the 18 golf courses that they play, and those who complete the trail will be awarded a commemorative wall display for all 18 coins.
The official order of the Old Tom Morris Trail is as follows:
1. Askernish, South Uist 2. Royal Dornoch, revered across the world, a venue consistently ranked inside the top-15 of global standings.
3. Tain 4. The Nairn Assisting clubs in the far north of Scotland is a legacy of Old Tom Morris’ work. The Nairn GC is another of his fine achievements, a glorious links course hugging the Moray Firth and host to countless leading events down the years – notably The Amateur Championship in 2021.
5. Moray Old, Lossiemouth. 6. Cullen Links, arguably the most unique of Old Tom’s designs. 7. Cruden Bay a venue steeped in history.
8. Montrose 9. Carnoustie 10. St Andrews Old 11. St Andrews New
12. Crail Balcomie 13. Luffness New in East Lothian. 14. Muirfield
15. North Berwick 16. Dunbar 17. Prestwick
18. Machrihanish. The journey to Kintyre is rewarded with the golfing delights.
St Andrews, Scotland: Managing Director, Dave Harris (left), with the Bonnie Wee Golf tour
specialist team Cam Howe (centre) and Director Stew Morrison (right), display the Old Tom
Morris Trail commemorative coins. (Credit Michal Wachucik, Abermedia)
Spectacular views from Askernish and Machrihanish, the 1st and 18th courses of the new Old
Tom Morris Trail.
Old Tom Morris, the Grand Old Man of Golf.
