"Ladies First", Says Fife Golfing Industry

An innovative golfing project, “Ladies First”, has been launched in the Kingdom of Fife, the worldwide Home of Golf.  For the first time, holidays designed specially for lady golfers have been created to entice them to visit St Andrews and other leading golf destinations.

“These new holidays will offer exactly the kind of accommodation, facilities and golf that ladies are looking for” said Grizelda Cowan, PR Executive for Kingdom of Fife Tourist Board.  “We are confident that lady golfers from all over the UK and overseas will want to make Fife their first choice for a perfect golfing holiday, tailored to their needs.”

Participating in the promotion are 10 of the best hotels and self-catering establishments in the Kingdom.  The accommodation ranges from hotels overlooking the Old Course at St Andrews to luxury country houses, and from coaching inns to self-catering lodges and villas.  “Ladies First” also features the Scottish National Golf Centre (which appropriately has a resident lady golf professional) along with 11 of the friendliest golf courses in Fife.  All 11 courses which include historic championship links, charming parkland courses and some of Scotland’s newest fairways, extend a particular welcome to visiting lady golfers.

“By extending a special welcome to lady golfers, we hope to show that Fife is the perfect venue for their golfing holidays,” said Ann Russell of Rufflets Hotel.  “We are not trying to be sexist – we welcome gentleman golfers too!  But we do feel that lady golfer’s particular needs are sometimes overlooked and we intend to redress this balance.”

Susan Simpson, Secretary of the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association which is based near St Andrews, is helping to publicise the new initiative.  As she says, “Up until now most golf holiday packages have been geared to the male market.  Now Fife has provided the perfect excuse for lady golfers to take a break and enjoy all the best that the “Home of Golf” has to offer.”

A brochure which gives details of all the tempting golfing holidays is being sent to all Ladies Golf Clubs in the UK, and can also be obtained from the St Andrews Tourist Information Centre – Tel 01334 472021.

“Ladies First” is just one of several new projects being co-ordinated by the Fife Golf Tourism Initiative – a partnership between Scottish Enterprise Fife, Kingdom of Fife Tourist Board and tourism businesses.