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Kingsbarns Golf Links has been named the provider of Scotland’s Best Golf Experience for the fourth time in the last five years. 

The acclaimed Fife facility took the top prize at the 2018 Scottish Golf Tourism Awards – the climax to the third annual Scottish Golf Tourism Week – staged at the Fairmont St Andrews resort.

The glittering event, hosted by renowned broadcaster Dougie Donnelly, was staged by PSP Media Group and supported by VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise.

Kingsbarns Golf Links took the top honour on the night, as well as the Best Customer Service award, to the delight of chief executive Alan Hogg.

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“I’m absolutely delighted for everyone at Kingsbarns, including Art Dunkley, our owner,” he said. “He always just tells us to do what we need to do to make the customer happy and we’re obviously doing that well. The Scottish golfer is not always an easy customer to please, so I’m exceptionally proud to know that this comes from the votes of Scottish golfers.

“I lead from the back. I send my guys out there and let them do their thing and I just do my thing at the back and it works. I always liked a quote from Jacky Montgomery at Dunbar who once told me that every day is a secret shopper day at Dunbar. I always loved that. We’ve definitely taken part of that on at Kingsbarns and it’s our mantra.
“I said to Gary Silcock last year after Gleneagles took our crown that I’d spend all year tying to get it back and here we are.”

Sgtw 2018 Room

Scottish Golf Tourism Week, which attracted more than 90 leading buyers from across the world to experience Scotland’s diverse golf product, comes as the industry pursues ambitions to grow the value of the golf tourism industry in Scotland from £286m in 2016 to £300m by 2020.

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Tom Lovering, director of Scottish Golf Tourism Week, said: “Enormous congratulations to Kingsbarns Golf Links, which has once again demonstrated its ability to deliver a consistently exceptional golf experience and has taken our top award for the fourth time.

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“All of the winners tonight are highly worthy of their accolades. I would also like to extend my thanks to all the businesses and tour operators who have come together from across the world to make Scottish Golf Tourism Week 2018 such a resounding success. SGTW is now firmly established as Scotland’s key golf tourism legacy event, showcasing the very best of Scotland’s golf product to a global audience and creating lasting benefits for Scotland’s economy as a result.”

Sgtw 2018 Room

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: “I’m delighted to see award winners from right across the country, which goes to underline how outstanding the outstanding strength in depth of the Scottish golf tourism product.

“All of the award winners deserve huge congratulations on their success, as do all of the businesses who have taken part in Scottish Golf Tourism Week in 2018.”

Scottish Golf Tourism Awards – In Full

Best Hotel (Under 20 rooms)     

The Old Loans Inn

Best Hotel (21-50 rooms)            

Murrayshall Country House Hotel

Best Hotel (Over 50 rooms)        

Fairmont St Andrews

Best Customer Service      

Kingsbarns Golf Links

Best Pro Shop         

Trump Turnberry

Best Clubhouse       

St Andrews Links, Castle Course

Best Catering           

Gleneagles

Value for Money (Under £50)     

Fortrose and Rosemarkie

Value for Money (£50-£100)       

The Duke’s, St Andrews

Value for Money (Over £100)      

Trump International Golf Links 

Best Course (Under £50) 

Pitlochry

Best Course (£50-£100)   

Balcomie Links, Crail

Best Course (Over £100)  

Championship Course, Carnoustie Golf Links

Best Experience winner   

Kingsbarns Golf Links

Special Recognition Award          

Pat Sawers, Carnoustie Golf Links


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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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