South Ayrshire Council Depute Provost Mary Kilpatrick welcomed a group of young golfers who flew all the way from Reykjavik to South Ayrshire to improve their golf.

The group of 12 junior golfers, from 14 to 18 years of age, are already experienced golfers with their handicaps ranging from scratch to six.  Due to the geographical layout of their own country they have not been able to play on a links golf course so they came to experience links play in South Ayrshire.

Hall Heimisson has been instrumental in bringing the Icelandic golfers to South Ayrshire.  In 1997 Hall was amongst a group of junior golfers who came from Reykjavik to play at Darley Golf Course in Troon to gain experience of playing a links course.  Now Finance Manager for Reykjavick Golf Club, Hall is ensuring that some of current Icelandic junior golfers experience links golf at a young age just as he did.

The young golfers met with the Depute Provost at Prestwick Golf Club, Links Road in Prestwick prior to teeing off at the famous course.

Depute Provost Mary Kilpatrick presented each of the Icelandic golfers with a small gift and said:  “It is quite amazing that these young golfers have flown from Iceland to play on courses in South Ayrshire including the Council’s Darley Golf Course to gain experience of links golf.  As a keen golfer myself I know how exciting it is to play on a different course and I hope that all the players enjoy their games.”

The Reykjavik juniors will play several rounds of golf during their visit to South Ayrshire at various clubs including the Council’s Darley, Seafield and Dalmilling Golf Courses and at Prestwick Golf Club.

South Ayrshire Council Depute Provost Mary Kilpatrick met the young Icelandic golfers at Prestwick Golf Club prior to them playing on the course.

October 2006