WORLD'S BIGGEST ROLEX IS THE TOCK OF CARNOUSTIE GOLF COURSE HOTEL

The world's largest Rolex has "clocked in" at Carnoustie Golf Course Hotel and Resort - and this watch is set to become a golfing landmark throughout the world.

Because the huge, luminous clock will be a tick-tocking point for some of the planet's greatest golfers when they tee off at The Open in July.

The 2.8 metre timekeeper was mounted on 27 April on the front of the new £8.5 million luxury hotel, which sits adjoining the 1st tee and 18th green of the renowned Championship Course at Carnoustie.

The clock, weighing in at 450kg, is the largest ever supplied by the Swiss company, which produces the finest timepieces on Earth.

The eyes of the world will be on the clock when The Open gets underway at Carnoustie, after a 24 year absence, on Thursday 15th July.

Carnoustie Golf Course Hotel chief executive Martin Delaney said: "Its ironic that this clock will help put Carnoustie back on the map as the town has been waiting for years to win back the right to host The Open."

"We're counting the minutes until we open on 2 May and the hours until the players arrive for The Open. This Rolex will certainly make timekeeping a whole lot easier. By the time the winner is declared on 18th July, we're sure that this clock will be familiar to golf fans watching on television from around the world."

Jacques Duchene, director of External Relations at Rolex in Geneva said: "This is a unique clock and we are delighted to be involved with the project at Carnoustie and for The Open."

The finishing touches are being put to the 85 bedroom hotel and, with its world class golfing facilities, it is one of the reasons The Open has returned to the town after such a long absence. Work will also start later in the year on 46 timeshare apartments at the resort.

The Chairman of Carnoustie Golf Course Hotel, Mike Johnston said: "I'm delighted to have this link with Rolex which is an outstanding and valuable endorsement to have. This is a quality hotel and we are now associated with one of the most respected names throughout the world. My team and I are extremely proud at having played a part in bringing The Open back to Carnoustie and we greatly look forward to welcoming our first guests.|"

The luxury accommodation and the first class meeting and leisure facilities mean the hotel is proving immensely popular with corporate organisations, for meetings and residential conferences, as well as those who wish to swing their sticks.

There are a number of suites available for the corporate market; each named after famous American courses and various syndicate and meeting rooms that can cater for anything from 10 to 300 delegates.

And it is the only hotel that can give its guests guaranteed tee-off times on an Open course.