SKY’S THE LIMIT AS MONTROSE REVEALS HONORARY MEMBER
Montrose Golf Links has released details of the first TV personality to be granted honorary membership in its 450-year history. The announcement, which follows the unprecedented move earlier this year to rename the fifth oldest golf course in the world, will see the honour bestowed upon former European Tour player Ewen Murray who is perhaps better known as the voice of Sky Sports golf coverage.
The announcement completes a memorable year for the Angus course which unveiled The 1562 Course shortly after the conclusion of the Open Championship at Carnoustie in July. For Murray, who becomes only the third person to receive the honour, the distinction is not only thrilling, but also poignant given his fond childhood memories of the east coast links.
“It was humbling,” admitted Murray, who has been a part of the Sky Sports team since 1991. “It’s not something you ask for; it’s something you’re asked to become, so when the letter arrived I was thrilled. I am very happy to be associated with the fifth oldest course in the world. It’s a big honour.”
Murray, who has earned a reputation as an expert golf commentator, has travelled the world covering some of the sport’s greatest moments. He was also a talented golfer in his own right playing on the European Tour and excelling in his youth winning the Scottish Boys Championship, the Scottish Boys Stroke Play Championship and the World Junior Championship, all in 1971.
Montrose made a lasting impression on Murray at the age of 10 when he first experienced the links caddying for his father who was raised in Arbroath but became the club professional at Baberton in Edinburgh. “I remember it vividly,” he recalled. “I fell in love with Montrose right away. It was rugged in the way a links course should be. I had played lots of seaside courses as a kid, but Montrose was the way seaside courses were meant to be. And it stuck with me.”
Although largely unaltered, the classic Scottish links at Montrose has been adapted and tweaked over the years by the likes of Willie Park Jr, Old Tom Morris and Harry Colt. Not surprisingly, it has become a must-play course for many visitors to Scotland with seven spectacular cliff-face holes and is widely regarded as one of the most natural links layouts in Scotland. It has twice hosted Open Championship Final Qualifying and regularly appears in the most prestigious golf rankings.
The relaunch of The 1562 Course at Montrose forms a key part of an integrated plan to better recognise 450 years of golfing heritage at the renowned east coast venue. The announcement of the honorary membership is the next stage in that plan.
“This has been an eventful year at Montrose Golf Links and for golf in Scotland generally,” noted Jason Boyd, PGA professional and operations manager at Montrose Golf Links. “The idea to create a brand surrounding The 1562 Course was a way of refocussing the history of Montrose and invigorating it for the 21st century. To mark this milestone, we wanted to recognise an individual who has a strong connection with Montrose, had reached the top level of the sport and had contributed to the growth of the game. Ewen was the perfect candidate, so we were thrilled when he accepted our proposal.”
The announcement concludes a year of special events at Montrose including a special launch offer and the introduction of a visitor experience package to coincide with the unveiling of the retitled links course. “It couldn’t come at a better time,” said Murray. “You look at that land and consider how long it’s been around; and you realise this is a special place. On a good day, when you get up on the dunes and look out to sea, I’m not sure I would want to be anywhere else than the east coast of Scotland. It just means so much to my family and therefore to me.”
Not only was Murray’s father from Arbroath, but his family also regularly visited Angus when he was growing up. It’s a tradition that he maintains with his own family until this day.
Montrose Golf Links features two traditional links courses; The Medal and The Broomfield and is located a 30-minute drive from Carnoustie, less than an hour from Dundee and 1 ½-hrs drive from
St Andrews.
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Notes to editors:
About Montrose Golf Links
1) The Medal Course at Montrose Golf Links is the fifth oldest golf course in the world. Golf has been played here for over 450 years.
2) Montrose Golf Links is made up of two courses; The Medal and The Broomfield. There are three associated golf clubs; Montrose Caledonia, Montrose Mercantile and Royal Montrose.
3) Although the land is owned by Angus Council, several years ago the management of the golf courses was transferred to Montrose Golf Links Limited.
4) The Medal course was renamed The 1562 Course during the 2018 season. The 1562 Course is a classic, natural Scottish links which remains largely unaltered.
5) Montrose Golf Links has been designed and laid out by Willie Park Jr, Old Tom Morris and Harry Colt.
6) Montrose Golf Links is a two-time Final Qualifying venue for the Open Championship. It has also hosted prestigious tournaments including the World Hickory Open (2013); The Europro Tour (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018) and Final Qualifying for the Senior Open Championship held at Carnoustie (2016).
7) Montrose Golf Links is ideally situated being a 30-minute drive from Carnoustie, less than an hour from Dundee and 1.5 hours from St Andrews.
8) Those interested in booking The Montrose Experience – a special packaged visitor day that includes a round on The 1562 Course, whisky tasting and a gift pack containing special merchandise from the famed Scottish links – should contact Montrose Golf Links.
9) Ewen Murray joins Alan Crow and Margaret Stewart as honorary members of Montrose Golf Links.
10) For more information about Montrose Golf Links, please visit www.montroselinks.com
For further quotes, interview opportunities and images, contact the Montrose Golf Links press office at yvonne@thewordassociation.biz or call Yvonne Alexander on:
Office: +44 (0) 1337 858 807
Out of hours: +44 (0) 7976 369 260