NEWS

News release 7 February 2007

Winner receives recognition  

Edwin Burtnett (left) and Alan McGregor

The winner of the worldwide naming competition for The Castle Course at St Andrews has been presented with a commemorative certificate at the world’s largest golf show.

Edwin Burtnett, from Tampa, Florida, entered The Castle Course for the naming competition run by St Andrews Links Trust which attracted 4000 entries from all over the world.

The course name was selected from a shortlist by the St Andrews Links Trustees and Mr Burtnett was selected after a random draw of all those who had suggested the winning names. He was then invited to a special presentation at the recent PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida.

Mr Burtnett, who visited St Andrews in 1998 to play the Old Course, came up with the idea after reading information about Kinkell Castle, which stood on the headland to the south-east of St Andrews in the middle ages, on the www.standrews.org.uk website.

He will be invited to the VIP opening ceremony of the seventh St Andrews Links course next year and will be given the opportunity to play one of the first rounds on the new course.

“I was absolutely astounded when I heard that I had won the competition. I have always had an interest in St Andrews and especially since I played the Old Course. I've always been big into the history of golf, and I just fell in love with the place," said the 7-handicapper, who once carried a 1.8.

"Since then, I've kept up with St. Andrews by visiting its website at least two times a week. When I heard about the competition I decided to enter a few names. I thought it needed to be something that captured the history of the site and sounded Scottish so The Castle Course seemed perfect. It really is amazing that I am the first person in 600 years to name a course at St Andrews in this way.”

Alan McGregor, general manager of the Links Trust, congratulated Mr Burtnett on his achievement. “We are delighted both with The Castle Course name and that we have such a worthy winner. It was a difficult task for our Trustees to select a name which would stand the test of time but I think The Castle Course is a name which will resonate with golf fans everywhere. Edwin has done extremely well and we look forward very much to welcoming him to the official opening ceremony for the course next year.”

The naming competition ran throughout last November through the www.standrews.org.uk website and attracted a massive field of entries from every continent including countries as diverse as Australia, Argentina, Thailand, Canada and Iceland.

The Castle Course has been designed by David McLay Kidd, a Scot who has gained worldwide renown for his work on courses such as Bandon Dunes in Oregon, Nanea in Hawaii and Queenwood in Surrey. The 220 acre clifftop course is expected to open for full play next spring and each hole will feature five tees to cater for all levels of ability. The par 71 layout will range in length from 5,600 to 7,200 yards. As with the existing six St Andrews Links courses the Castle Course will be public.

Ends.

Media contact
Mike Woodcock
Communications manager
St Andrews Links Trust

Telephone: 01334 466610

E-mail mikewoodcock@standrews.org.uk