Visitor Golf at Gleneagles
Gleneagles' golf courses opened to visiting players seeking a deluxe golfing experience from March 1999. The three championship courses, golf academy and extensive clubhouse facilities are available for use by companies and private individuals alike. Bookings can be made up to 8 weeks in advance with greater advance notice awarded to frequent players and groups. Golfers will continue to tee-off at the leisurely pace of 10 minute intervals.
Hotel guests will continue to have priority, while existing arrangements such as memberships have been redefined and some have been phased out. Regular users of the golf facilities will benefit from additional exclusive services and facilities.
Announcing the plans, Peter Lederer, managing director of Gleneagles said:
"This open access is one step in a strategy to develop further Gleneagles' world class position in golf. Over the next five years, we aim to become a distinctive world centre for golf and, to achieve our goal, we have developed a range of carefully balanced initiatives of which visitor golf is one.
"Not only will our plans support Gleneagles' future, the impact on the Scottish economy is considerable. As the business grows, we anticipate that the money spent in the area, as a result of increased visitors to Gleneagles, will double to over £8million annually." Green fees for visitors range from £60 to £100 per person per round, the variance reflecting seasonal conditions. Golfers have access to the 11-acre academy with covered practice facilities and the clubhouse which includes luxury locker rooms with showers, sauna and steam rooms.
Economic Impact
DTZ Pieda Consulting undertook a study in August 1998 to establish the impact of Gleneagles' business on the Scottish economy. The key findings are:
Gleneagles spends £12.4 million annually on Scottish goods and services.
Gleneagles Hotel guests spend £4.7 million annually in Scotland, in addition to spend in the hotel.
The impact of visitor golf by 2001 will double the spend in the Scottish economy with visitors spending an additional £2.7 million in Scotland and Gleneagles purchasing an additional £1.9 million goods and services.
