Press Release
13 March 2000

ENTRIES FOR ST ANDREWS GRAND MATCH

Local golfers wishing to take part in the St Andrews Millennium Grand Match can now enter as individuals or in small groups and the organising committee will make up the teams of 10 required for the event.

"We know that some people have part-formed teams and others would like to join a team and as we want as many as possible to take part we decided to offer this team-up service so that no-one misses out," said Colin Kennedy, chairman of the Grand Match working party which is organising this massive event.

The biggest golfing event in the history of St Andrews, the St Andrews Millennium Grand Match is taking place at noon on Saturday 24 June over all five 18 hole courses on the Links. The massive shotgun start will be signalled by two cannons - one on the first tee of the Old Course and the other on West Sands.

The competition will be followed by a celebratory evening event in a giant marquee. It is open to participants and their partners and includes dinner, dancing, the prize-giving ceremony and a fireworks display.

"This will be the biggest golf match the town has seen since the game was first played here in the 1400s. It is both a celebration of six centuries of golf and the new Millennium and the evening festivities will be a fitting finish to what will be a historic day for St Andrews," said Mr Kennedy.

The Grand Match involves a shotgun start at midday with 600 golfers teeing off on all 99 holes on the Links courses. The teams of 10 adults will compete over the 18 hole courses and a special children's event is taking place on the Balgove Course. The signal to start
will be made by two cannons - one from the Highland Gunners Regiment being fired on West Sands and the other from the Royal & Ancient's cannon which will be fired by the first tee of the Old Course. The signal to start will also act as a signal to golfers in other parts of the world to play their shots in the World Shotgun 2000.

The winning team members in the adult event will each receive - and keep in perpetuity - a statuette of Tom Morris standing on the Swilken Bridge donated by Texan businessman, J Neal Garland. St Andrews Links Trust is providing engraved pewter quaichs from St Andrews Jewellery Workshop for the teams in second and third place and prizes for the children's competition. Glenmorangie and Alfred Dunhill are donating gifts to participants.

Entry forms for the St Andrews Grand Match are available from local golf clubs and the St Andrews Links and Eden Clubhouses. A total of 54 teams of ten adults, either single or mixed sex, will be taking part and the deadline for entry is 26 May 2000. Anyone wishing to volunteer to help organise the start and to be officials during the match, should contact their golf club.

Ends