The build-up to Golf Tourism Scotland's Gold Standard Awards is underway with the nominees for this year's event being announced by the sector's leading trade body. The glittering, red-carpet event, which brings together representatives from the travel, hospitality and golf service sectors, will take place in November at the new-look Turnberry Resort.
The GTS Awards Dinner celebrates the very best in Scottish golf tourism through 11 awards that recognise the year's top golf course, transport operator, golf tour operator, golf secretariat, caddiemaster and hotels. This year's event will also include a new Special Achievement Award as well as the acclaimed Young Industry Person Award.
"The Gold Standard Awards celebrate the best our country has to offer," said Nick Hunter, Chairman of GTS. "It encompasses the core elements of Scotland's golf industry from tour operators to the golf courses themselves, and everything in- between. It is a great opportunity to review one of Scotland's most important industries and celebrate what we do best."
This year's event will follow the format established at last year's showcase when GTS members not only nominated for the first time online but also cast their votes via the internet. As a result, the GTS Gold Standard Awards are the only Scottish golf industry honours to be nominated and voted for by the industry itself.
THE NOMINEES:
The nominees for the Hotel of the Year award in the small hotel/guest house category are: Brownhills Guest House (St Andrews); Dunvegan Hotel (St Andrews); Eagle Hotel (Dornoch); North Berwick Golf Lodge; Ogstons on North Street (St Andrews); Old Loans Inn (Loans nr Troon) and Sandhill House (Troon).
The nominees for the Hotel of the Year award in the country house hotel category are: Ballathie Country House Hotel (Kinclaven, Perthshire); Culloden House Hotel (Inverness); Greywalls (Gullane); Rufflets Country House Hotel (St Andrews) and Winton House (Pencaitland, East Lothian).
The nominees for the Hotel of the Year award in the large hotel category are: Gailes Hotel (Irvine); Inn at Lathones (nr St Andrews); Kilspindie House Hotel (Aberlady); Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa (North Berwick); Macdonald Rusacks Hotel (St Andrews); Parkstone Hotel (Prestwick) and St Andrews Golf Hotel.
The nominees for the Hotel of the Year award in the resort hotel category are: Cameron House on Loch Lomond; Fairmont St Andrews; Gleneagles Hotel; Green Hotel (Kinross); Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa (St Andrews) and Turnberry Resort.
The nominees for Transport Operator of the Year are: 1st Class Travel; Executive Travel Company; McLaren Travel; St Andrews Executive Travel; Scottish Travel Services; Top Chauffeur Services; Tour Drive and Woods Coaches.
The nominees for Golf Secretariat of the Year are: Carnoustie Golf Links; Castle Stuart Golf Links; Crail Golfing Society; Kingsbarns Golf Links; Nairn Golf Club; North Berwick Golf Club; Prestwick Golf Club and Western Gailes Golf Club.
The nominees for Caddiemaster of the Year are: Sam Fox (North Berwick Golf Club); Davie Gilchrist (Kingsbarns Golf Links) and Martin Roy (Carnoustie Links).
The nominees for Golf Tour Operator of the Year are: Drumgolf; Executive Golf & Leisure; Golf Scotland; Haversham and Baker; Links Golf St Andrews; Morton Golf; Pioneer Golf; Spela-Golf.com; Jerry Quinlan's Celtic Golf and Wilkinson Travel Services.
The nominees for Golf Course of the Year are: Ailsa Course (Turnberry); Balcomie Links (Crail); Castle Stuart Golf Links (Inverness); Duke's Course (St Andrews); Kingsbarns Golf Links (nr St Andrews); Muirfield; North Berwick West Links; Prestwick and Torrance Course (St Andrews).
-MEDIA NOTES
1)Golf Tourism Scotland (GTS) was formed in 2005 with the aim of raising the standards of Scotland's golf tourism in areas of product development, marketing, training and research.
2)GTS has around 130 members involved in almost every area of golf tourism in Scotland.
3)The GTS Gold Standard Awards are: Golf Course of the Year; Hotel of the Year (Small Hotel/Guest House, Country House, Large Hotel and Resort Hotel); Secretariat of the Year; Caddie Master of the Year; Transport Operator of the Year; Golf Tour Operator of the Year; Young Industry Person Award and the inaugural Special Achievement Award.
4)The winners will be announced at the annual GTS Awards Dinner on Thursday 5th November at Turnberry.
5)For more information visit www.golftourismscotland.com. To join GTS, visit www.golftourismscotland.com/join
For further quotes, interview opportunities and images contact the GTS press office at pr@golftourismscotland.com or call Yvonne Alexander on:
Office: +44 (0) 1337 858807
Out of Hours: +44 (0) 7976 369 260
