TOMATIN RESPONSE TO CAMPAIGN IS ABOVE PAR
Press Release
Highland Golf Links
- Tomatin Distillery installs new defibrillators
- Decision on life-saving machines inspired by golf hero’s campaign
- Interest growing in Pro-Am at Castle Stuart, Royal Dornoch and Nairn
The sponsor of a leading Scottish golf event has bought three life-saving defibrillators after being inspired by a former Ryder Cup captain’s campaign.
Machines purchased from St Andrew’s First Aid have now been placed inside Tomatin Distillery and in its visitor centre. They will provide an emergency response for the 50 staff and the distillery’s 20,000 annual visitors, as well as the 500-strong local community.
A third defibrillator has been gifted to Carrbridge Golf Club, which will host the weather-delayed Tomatin Distillery Scottish Nine Hole Open on Sunday 31 August.
The move was prompted by the company’s sponsorship of the annual Tomatin Single Malt Homecoming Pro-Am, which will be held next month when Bernard Gallacher will captain one of the teams.
In August last year Gallacher suffered a cardiac arrest and spent several days in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after falling ill at a function in the city. He credits the quick thinking of hotel staff and the availability of a defibrillator at the venue where he was due to speak for helping his recovery.
Gallacher, who played in eight Ryder Cups and was captain three times, will be among nearly 300 golfers taking part in the Pro-Am, held over three of Scotland’s finest links courses just a few days after the Ryder Cup in Gleneagles.
Money raised during the tournament will support a nationwide campaign he launched in December to make automated external defibrillators (AEDs) widely available at golf clubs, driving ranges and other locations in the UK and Ireland.
The 54-hole Pro-Am will be played at Castle Stuart Golf Links, Royal Dornoch Golf Club and The Nairn Golf Club from 30 September to 2 October.
All three courses have defibrillators available in emergencies and Royal Dornoch Golf Club is currently raising money for the Bernard Gallacher campaign to have another machine at the Championship Course’s Halfway House.
The clubs are part of Highland Golf Links, a partnership group that also includes the Kingsmills Hotel and Culloden House Hotel, Inverness; the Royal Golf Hotel and Links House, at Royal Dornoch; and the Golf View Hotel in Nairn, and promotes destination breaks.
Graham Eunson, Tomatin Distillery’s general manager, said: “The main driver behind the purchase of the defibrillators was our connection with Bernard Gallacher’s campaign and learning from hearing him talk about it.
“The distillery is in a remote location, 315m above sea level, and 15 minutes drive in any direction from the nearest hospital or ambulance. The machines will, therefore, provide reassurance in the event of an emergency for our staff, visitors and the many contractors we have on site each day.
“In line with our close relationship with the local community, they will also be made available to Tomatin residents, as well as to Carrbidge Golf Club, although we hope they will never be required.”
The Tomatin Single Malt Homecoming Pro-Am is open to teams from anywhere in the world. Already 56 teams of four, including players from the US, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland and across the UK, have already confirmed they are taking part.
An expected field of 280 golfers in 70 teams will compete in the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) tournament which carries a total prize fund of more than £60,000.
The contest is estimated to generate about £200,000 for the Highland economy.
As part of the event a Tomatin tutored whisky tasting will be held at Inverness Town House, as well as a charity auction with proceeds going to the defibrillator campaign.
Fraser Cromarty, CEO at The Nairn Golf Club and chairman of HGL, said: “Defibrillators can be life-savers and it is important that as many golf courses and other public places as possible make them available, along with appropriately trained staff.
“Tomatin Distillery is to be congratulated for installing these machines and its support for the Pro-Am competition will further help Bernard Gallacher’s campaign which will have benefits across the country.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
There are still vacancies for amateur teams to take part in the Pro-Am tournament. Anyone wishing further details should contact
www.highlandgolflinks.com/tomatin-pro-am
PGA Scotland 01764 661840
Or bookings@highlandgolflinks.com
The entry fee is £1,700 per team of three, which includes three rounds of competition golf with prizes, the post-tournament gala dinner and the opportunity to tour the Tomatin distillery.
For more information contact
John Ross
Lucid PR
01463 724593; 077300 99617
johnross@lucidmessages.com
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