Many Scottish club professionals have played the Deer Park Masters for a number of years now, but in relation to the recent competition certain stalwart professionals have praised what they see as the tremendous support and camaraderie the Tournament offers.
Ross McConnachie from the Drumoig Golf Centre said of the event, which was won by Greig Hutcheon for the third time in a row: “To have a double shotgun two days in a row and obtain 100 pro-am teams is a tremendous achievement and testament to all the hard work that goes into running the event.” The Tournament, now in its 12th year, attracts 100 pro-am teams with many business sectors represented to play with the pros in a team of four.
Paul Wardell, professional at Berwick Golf Club said: “I hope that the Muir Group and Deer Park will continue to offer the event for many years to come, such is the importance placed on it by myself and my fellow pros.” During the past few years when many clubs struggled during recessionary times the Muir Group has kept the event going with cash prizes for the best performing professional players and Tartan Tour points of merit up for grabs too.
Mark Kerr, professional at the Marriott Dalmahoy said: “The Deer Park Masters is one of the strongest events on the Tartan Tour schedule, an event which is greatly appreciated by the golf professionals of Scotland.” He also congratulated the club on the work carried out on the course over the last few years which had made a “tremendous difference.”
Alan Muir, Business Development Director for Muir Construction said: ”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 making the time to come out and play the event. We designed the event originally to thank and support them.”
Mr Muir also thanked the Gold Sponsors of the event, Emtec. “They have shown us terrific support over the past few years, as have many of the firms who come back to the Masters time and time again.”
The Deer Park Masters was conceived as a means of supporting the club professionals of Scotland, a grass roots support which has been greatly appreciated over recent years of recession and decline in golf club membership. At the same time, the pro-am tournament, which sees both a pro-am team competition on day one, and a contest strictly between the club professionals on day two, enables amateur golfers to gain valuable insight into the game they love by playing with fifty leading club and team professionals from all over Scotland.
Deer Park Golf and Country Club, part of the Muir Group of Companies, was opened in 1978 and forms the centrepiece to what has become a thriving community of homes, offices and leisure facilities built by Muir and offering the ideal blend of lifestyle and location.
The club has recently hosted a Tartan Tour Senior Open and a Ladies Open, both completely new professional events for Deer Park.
Submitted by CLARE GRAHAM
