I don’t think there is a golfer on the planet who doesn’t have a round of golf in Scotland on their bucket list. An opportunity to play in St. Andrews and help out a worthy cause is closer to some than they might think.

Amateur golfers are being offered the chance of a lifetime to play in the same tournament as some of the world’s leading professionals in the 2009 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. As an attendee of the event last year (as a spectator), I can honestly say the tournament is one of the best-run sporting events I’ve been exposed to. With play occurring on three different courses over the course of the weekend, it really gives golf fans an opportunity to scope out what the courses of the region are all about. Here is a pic of me observing play at Kingsbarns during last year’s event.

The opportunity to take part in this prestigious invitation-only tournament held over the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links from October 1-4 can be a reality for one persistent golfing soul.

The amateur playing place in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is up for auction – through www.ebay.co.uk – until 19.00hrs (St. Andrews time) on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10.

The auction, which raised £24,000 last year, also offers the opportunity to support a leading golf charity.  Funds raised will be donated to the St Andrews-based Pilgrim Foundation, a charity committed to the restoration of historic monuments and buildings in the Home of Golf. The Foundation’s patrons include Sir Sean Connery, Colin Montgomerie, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Arnold Palmer, Sam Torrance, Tony Jacklin and TV commentator Peter Alliss. To date this annual auction has raised over £125 000 for the Pilgrim Foundation.

Bids can be made by visiting www.ebay.co.uk and searching for ‘Alfred Dunhill Links Championship’.

The winning bidder will be treated to the very best of Alfred Dunhill’s world famous hospitality. The package includes one amateur place in the 2009 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, five nights accommodation for two at an official tournament hotel (breakfast included), airport transfers from Edinburgh and invitations to the championship’s exclusive social events as honored guests.

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is unique. With a prize fund of US$5 million, it incorporates two separate competitions – an individual professional tournament for the world’s leading golfers and a team event in which they are paired with some of the most celebrated amateurs.

Last year Sweden’s Robert Karlsson birdied the first extra hole of a sudden death play-off against England’s Ross Fisher and Germany’s Martin Kaymer to win a thrilling championship.  Also in the field were many of the world’s leading golfers including three-time major champions Ernie Els and  Padraig Harrington, Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, England’s Lee Westwood and Irishman Rory McIlroy.

Among the amateurs who played last year were film and television stars Hugh Grant, Samuel L.Jackson, Dougray Scott and Luke Wilson, and music legends Don Felder from the Eagles, Ronan Keating, Huey Lewis and Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres.
Many of the world’s great sports stars also took part including football’s Sir Bobby Charlton, Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit and Jamie Redknapp, world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, Olympic rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave, British tennis hero Tim Henman, American Football running back Marcus Allen, downhill ski star Franz Klammer, and former rugby players Sean Fitzpatrick, Gavin Hastings and Morné du Plessis. Cricket was represented by India’s Kapil Dev, England’s Sir Ian Botham, Mark Nicholas and Michael Vaughan, South Africa’s Shaun Pollock and Australian spin legend Shane Warne.

- Nichole Brophy, Golf Editor

No related posts.