Homecoming Scotland 2009 and the R&A Announce Homecoming Day at The Open

22nd April 2009

To mark the return of The Open Championship to Turnberry, Homecoming Scotland and the R&A today (April 22nd) unveiled Homecoming Day at The Open. Homecoming Day will take place on Wednesday 15th July, the final practice day, and offers a great value day for families and golf enthusiasts with some unique and exciting opportunities to experience the atmosphere of The Open, including having their photo taken with the iconic Claret Jug.

Marie Christie, Project Director, Homecoming Scotland said:
“People all over the world have a passion for golf, a passion for Scotland and a passion for Robert Burns so The Open returning to Turnberry in Ayrshire, the birth place of Burns, brings all three elements together for Scotland’s year of Homecoming. Homecoming Scotland is a year long celebration of more than 300 events which celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns and The Open is yet another great reason to come to Scotland, enjoy the golf and explore the area which inspired some of the most famous poetry in the world.”

Highlights of Homecoming Day at The Open will include photo opportunities which will allow golf fans to get up close with the iconic Claret Jug. Photos of the experience can then be downloaded from the Homecoming Scotland website: www.HomecomingScotland2009.com

Homecoming Day at The Open will also include a putting competition to challenge ambitious amateurs to test their putting skills against some of the leading names in golf on a specially designed putting green in the tented village.

David Hill, R&A Director of Championships said:
”We are very pleased to support Homecoming Scotland. The Open Championship and Scotland are inextricably linked and we are sure that this initiative will prove popular with our spectators."

In addition, golf lovers can enjoy seeing world class golf on the course while the pros practice and off the course as classic Open Championship moments are shown on big screens around the tented village.

From the famous ‘Duel in the Sun’ to Jack Nicklaus’ fond farewell at St Andrews’ the screens will show iconic moments in the history of The Open in Scotland and indeed the sport.

Tickets for Homecoming Day at The Open cost £30 per adult and children under 16 years old go free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available to purchase now from www.OpenGolf.com.

For more information on Homecoming Scotland 2009 and to register for programme updates visit www.homecomingscotland2009.com

Ends

Media contacts

Gayle Wilson, PR Manager Homecoming Scotland 2009
0131 472 2067 m. 07704 664 465

Leon Thompson, Corporate Affairs Manager, EventScotland
0131 472 2312 m 07778 163 085

Notes to editors

The Open Championship:

The Open Championship is regarded by many as biggest and best event on the global golfing calendar and its return to Turnberry, Ayrshire in 2009 is just one of the great reasons to come to Scotland for Homecoming this year.

With Scotland credited as having developed the game of golf back in the thirteenth century, it is obvious that when celebrating some of Scotland’s great contributions to the world, golf is at the forefront of the festivities. From those early days Scotland, known world-wide as ‘The Home of Golf’, has nurtured over 550 courses and been a destination for golf fans for over 100 years.

The first 12 Open Championships took place in Prestwick, Ayrshire in 1860 so Ayrshire has a long association with the competition. Its return to the Ailsa Course, Turnberry, one of Scotland’s most iconic courses, after an absence of 15 years is in itself a cause for celebration.

Homecoming Scotland 2009:

Homecoming Scotland is a year-long celebration of over 300 events marking Scotland’s major contributions to the world stretching from Burns Night to St Andrews Day 2009.

Homecoming Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative managed by EventScotland, the national events agency, in partnership with VisitScotland, the country's national tourism agency. The initiative is part financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.

Robert Burns is the inspiration for Homecoming Scotland as 2009 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national poet.

As well as Robert Burns, Homecoming Scotland events are also celebrating some of the other great contributions Scotland has given the world – golf, whisky, great Scottish minds and innovations, and as the ancestral home to millions of people around the world.

Copies of the events guide are free and will be available from airports, train and bus stations, Visitor Information Centres, visitor attractions, theatres, cinemas, shopping malls, libraries, arts venues, hotels and a host of other public places from 29 December 2008.

The programme is available online at http://www.homecomingscotland2009.com both as a downloadable file and searchable database.

The programme of events for the year has been created by EventScotland’s Homecoming Scotland 2009 team, working in partnership with event owners, local authorities, arts, culture and sport organisations and businesses. A quarter of all the events in the programme are free.

Visit www.homecomingscotland2009.com for more information about Homecoming and the events programme.