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It was double delight for Carnoustie Golf Links as it won two awards at this year’s Scottish Golf Tourism Awards.

A total of 12 awards were handed out at a gala dinner attended by almost 500 people at the Fairmont Hotel, St Andrews.

Carnoustie Golf Links won awards for best course in the over £150 category and best pro shop.

There was joy elsewhere in Tayside and Fife on the night too.

Rusacks St Andrews was named best hotel with more than 50 rooms while Strathmore Golf Centre in Alyth was named best course under £75.

St Andrews based Connoisseur Golf was best UK golf tour operator.

The winners were selected by a panel of independent judges from across the industry.

The awards ceremony is the culmination of Scottish Golf Tourism Week.

Returning for its sixth year, the partnership between DC Thomson and VisitScotland aims to support Scottish golf businesses and encourage growth in the industry.

It brings together some of the world’s leading tour operators with 100 Scottish golf businesses.

More than 80 inbound golf tour operators from around 30 different countries attended.  It is estimated that the tour operators in attendance bring approximately 50,000 golf tourists into Scotland every year.

The week’s itinerary included familiarisation visits to six regions – Angus and Dundee, Highlands, Aberdeen, Fife, West Coast and East Coast.

In addition, 3,700 one-to-one meetings between buyers and suppliers took place to discuss customer needs and potential business opportunities.

Organisers are expecting bumper years for incoming tourism with the sterling exchange rate favourable to overseas visitors.

Suppliers forecast an average increase in turnover of more than £215,000 across the following three years as a direct result of the new connections they built at the event.

Craig Blue from VisitScotland said: “Every year this event goes from strength to strength.

“There was a lot of buzz and excitement in the room with lots of positive meetings and networking opportunities taking place.

“With 82 tour operators from around the globe along with 93 Scottish businesses, the appetite for the Home of Golf is very much alive and in demand.

“We look forward to welcoming both domestic and international golfers to Scotland in 2023 and beyond.”

Scottish Golf Tourism Awards 2023 winners were:

• Best Hotel 20 Rooms & Under – Old Loans Inn
• Best Hotel 21-50 Rooms – The Machrie Hotel & Golf Links
• Best Hotel Over 50 Rooms – Rusacks St Andrews
• Best 9-Hole Course – Kingsfield Golf & Leisure
• Best Course Under £75 – Strathmore Golf Centre
• Best Course £75-£150 – Cruden Bay Golf Club
• Best Course Over £150 – Carnoustie Golf Links Championship Course
• Best Clubhouse – Dundonald Links
• Best Pro Shop – Carnoustie Golf Links
• Best Sustainability Project – Dundonald Links
• Best Golf Tour Operator UK Based – Connoisseur Golf
• Best Golf Tour Operator Overseas Based – Celtic Golf