CNN
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It stays to be seen whether or not soccer will come dwelling for England on the World Cup in Qatar subsequent month, however for neighboring Scotland, golf has formally – and eventually – returned to its motherland.
Having hosted the sport for nearly six centuries, “the house of golf” – as Scotland is understood – was acknowledged because the World’s Finest Golf Vacation spot for the very first time on the ninth version of the annual World Golf Awards in Abu Dhabi this week.
Regardless of the dominance of its legendary St. Andrews Outdated Course within the World’s Finest Golf Course class – with 5 successive wins after the award’s inception – Scotland had by no means been acknowledged as the game’s greatest vacation spot.
Portugal had held an iron grip on the title for the award’s first 5 years, earlier than a victory for Australia was sandwiched between wins for Vietnam in 2019 and 2021.
But after a landmark 12 months, which noticed Scottish hyperlinks programs play host to 2 historic majors – the one hundred and fiftieth Open Championship at St. Andrews and the primary ever Girls’s Open at Muirfield – the nation lastly scooped the prize, in addition to the award for Finest Golf Vacation spot in Europe.
The only real European contender for the World award, Scotland trumped rival nominees Argentina, Australia, Canada, Dubai, Jamaica, Morocco, and final 12 months’s winner Vietnam.
Scotland’s golf business is value upwards of $1.3 billion (£1.1 billion), with an annual golf tourism market bringing in $339 million (£286 million) and supporting over 4,000 jobs, in keeping with Go to Scotland.
“These awards are a becoming finish to an additional particular 12 months for golf in Scotland and improbable recognition for all of the individuals who work so onerous to develop and improve our fame as The House of Golf,” stated Go to Scotland Chief Government Malcolm Roughead.
“Golf tourism is a big increase for the financial system and raises Scotland’s profile on the worldwide stage.”
In October, the fabled Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship noticed professionals and celebrities alike rotate round St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns – three of Scotland’s flagship hyperlinks programs which assist appeal to virtually 220,000 annual golf guests to the nation, in keeping with Go to Scotland.
“Scottish golf tourism is prospering, and Scotland is a bucket listing vacation spot for many golfers across the World,” added Dermot Synnott, Director of International Partnership for the World Golf Awards.
“It provides an unlimited vary of parkland and hyperlinks choices throughout all its areas, so the travelling golfer actually is spoilt for selection.”
Shinnecock Hills Golf Membership on Lengthy Island, New York, was topped the World’s Finest Golf Course, persevering with a robust American run after back-to-back wins for Augusta Nationwide.
In the meantime, JA The Resort Golf Course in Dubai received Finest 9 Gap Golf Course and Costa Navarino in Greece was acknowledged because the World’s Finest Rising Golf Vacation spot.
