A Unique Double For Dundonald Links Two Weeks, Two Scottish Opens

In July 2017 spectacular Dundonald Links on the Ayrshire coastline will host a unique double: the Scottish Opens for men and ladies. First, from July 13 thru 16, 2017 the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open of the European Tour will again be the last tournament prior to the British Open in Royal Birkdale (England) and will attract many world class golfers who use this event as the last tune-up for the season’s third major in the following week . This year this tournament is part of the newly formed Rolex Series, a collection of the most prestigious events of the European Tour. From July 27 thru 30 the Ladies European Tour (LET) will return with the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open to the Dundonald Links in Irvine on the Scottish west coast for the third consecutive year. In 2016 the Ladies Scottish Open in Dundonald Links attracted a record number of fans.   
Situated about an hour south of Glasgow Dundonald Links, originally named Southern Gailes, was bought in 2003 by the owners of Loch Lomond and opened the same year to give Loch Lomond members a chance to play a great links course. Loch Lomond Golf Club staged the Scottish Open of the European Tour for 15 years from 1996 until 2010 when the tournament moved to different locations in Scotland. This year it travels to the scenic west coast of Scotland to a stretch of great golfing country.

Courses like Royal Troon, host of last year’s British Open, Western Gailes, Gailes Golf Links or Prestwick Golf Club are recognized as some of the best traditional links courses in the world. The stunning 7,100-yard, par 72 Dundonald Links layout was designed by the highly-acclaimed American golf course architect Kyle Phillips. The course features all that you would expect from a classic links course, deep bunkers, meandering burns and undulating greens. Dundonald Links has played host to numerous professional and amateur tournaments, including the European Tour Qualifying School First Stage, a qualifier for the Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex and the Ladies Scottish Open. 
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, which manages the Scottish Government’s investment in the event, said: “Scotland is the Home of Golf, and as such is fortunate to have an abundance of world-class golfing venues the length and breadth of the country. I am delighted that Dundonald Links, one of the outstanding courses on the west coast, will host the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open in 2017 and continue the commitment of rotating the event around the country.” 
Bill Donald, General Manager of Loch Lomond Golf Club and Dundonald Links, said: “Over the years, Dundonald Links has proven it’s pedigree and become recognized by the R&A and the European Tour, playing host to a number of professional and amateur tournaments. The AAM Ladies Scottish Open returns in July for the third consecutive year, back to back with the Scottish Open, a first for Scottish golf. This news also brings with it a very welcome boost to the local Ayrshire community, who will naturally benefit from the economic impact and the publicity generated by both events.  

The Scottish Open is viewed in 450 million homes globally including the USA and Canada.  So this is a great stage to showcase our course. We are very excited about the months ahead, and working with North Ayrshire Council and the surrounding area to prepare for the arrival of the world’s top golfers and to make this event a huge success for all involved.” 
But the great courses of Ayrshire not only welcome and test the best golfers in the world. All courses are open to the public. In order to accommodate golfers from all over the world two packages were created. The Gailes Golf Experience offers the chance to play the three courses Dundonald Links, Western Gailes and Gailes Links for a bargain price of £ 270 during peak season from May thru September. www.gailesgolfexperience.co.uk 
But Ayrshire boasts more great golf courses like Prestwick St. Nicholas, Kilmarnock Barassie and Irvine Bogside. These courses can be played for £ 170. For and additional £ 100 pounds a round at Dundonald can be booked. www.ayrshiregolfpass.co.uk.

Ayrshire Golf  Media & Marketing Office Continental Europe Helma Scheffler Public Relations Helma Scheffler .