Pros heap praise on Deer Park Masters

• Club professionals heap praise on Deer Park Masters
• The flagship Tartan Tour event continues to back grassroots golf
• Greig Hutcheon was victorious in this year’s staging

One of the Tartan Tour’s flagship tournaments has been hailed by participants for its continued support of grassroots golf.

The Deer Park Masters, which was recently contested for a 12th time earlier this month, was formed as a means of supporting club professionals across Scotland and is an event which has been greatly appreciated in recent years in times of recession and a decline in golf club membership.

The pro-am format, which sees a team competition on day one and a contest strictly between the club professionals on day two, enables amateur golfers to gain a valuable insight into the game they love by playing with 50 leading club and team professionals from all over Scotland.

“To obtain 100 pro-am teams is a tremendous achievement” – Ross McConnachie

And the most recent edition of the event, which was won by Greig Hutcheon for a third successive year, has received huge praise from professionals, who enjoy the great camaraderie that the tournament offers.

“To have a double shotgun two days in a row and obtain 100 pro-am teams is a tremendous achievement,” said Drumoig Golf Centre’s Ross McConnachie. “It’s testament to all the hard work that goes into running the event.”

Mark Kerr, professional at the Marriott Dalmahoy who finished third at this year’s event, said: “It’s one of the strongest events on the Tartan Tour schedule and an event which is greatly appreciated by the golf professionals of Scotland. I’d also like to congratulate the club on the work they’ve carried out on the course over the last few years as that’s made a tremendous difference to the quality of the event.”

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Greig Hutcheon

Hosted at the Livingston venue, just off the M8, the tournament has received great backing from gold sponsors EMTEC – a Glasgow-based building firm – in recent years, while Fife-based Muir Group, who own Deer Park, are also always fully behind its staging.

“I hope they continue to support the event for many years to come” – Paul Wardell

“During the past few years when many clubs have struggled, the Muir Group has kept the event going with cash prizes for the best performing pros and Tartan Tour points up for grabs too,” said Paul Wardell, professional at North Berwick Golf Club. “I hope they continue to support the event for many years to come, such is the importance placed on it by myself and my fellow pros.”

Alan Muir, business development director for Muir Construction, added: “This event is epitomised by a fantastic team spirit, and the pros who take part year after year, giving us amateurs so much enjoyment, are an integral part of what the tournament is all about. We really appreciate their support and taking the time to come out and play the event.”