Proving that it is once again simply a corporate golf event not to be missed, and now in its 10th year, the 2013 Deer Park Masters took place at Deer Park in Livingston at the start of the week with ninety corporate teams, many of them from the construction sector.
This year’s Tournament, which saw two days of play in both a team and individual pro format, was won by Greig Hutcheon (pictured) with a score of 10 Under. Greig, who is the Pro at Banchory Golf Club, last won the Tournament in 2007. The team competition on day one was won by CA Roofing who played with pro Calum Lawson from the Wellsgreen Golf Range. In day two the team competition was clinched by Greentech Ltd who played with pro Fraser Mann of Musselburgh Golf Club.
The tournament has been bucking the trend economically ever since the recession – which has particularly affected the construction sector – took hold. The Muir Group, who are behind the successful event, have always found that companies are more than willing to take part and submit teams as it is not just the fiercely competitive golf that they enjoy but the chance to network as well.
“We have a great sales team in place who help us promote the Deer Park Masters to the construction sector and other Scottish business sectors who regularly submit teams year after year,” said Alan Muir, Business Development Director for Muir Construction. “I would like to pay tribute to them again today for doing such a fantastic job and filling ninety teams. Once again we have had a great Masters with a past Champion wining again – our congratulations go to Greig Hutcheon with a fabulous score of ten under par. I am confident that everyone who took part in this year’s Masters found it a very enjoyable experience both from a golfing and business point of view.”
Added Alan: “It’s also very good news for the fifty golf professionals from clubs all over Scotland who took part and who are beneficiaries of the event. We originally conceived the Deer Park Masters to give them vital support and it has never been more needed than during the terrible recession we are now hopefully seeing the end of. It’s true to say that many golf clubs have been forced to close or downsize during the downturn with professionals earning capacity severely affected.”
“Events like this give them a chance to win Tartan Tour points and also to win cash prizes,” said Alan.
Once again this year the Deer Park Masters main sponsors were from the Construction Sector with Ross Fire Protection, from Cumbernauld and Glasgow based Emtec Group both Silver Sponsors. Emtec, a Building Services firm covering everything from electrical and mechanical services to air conditioning; refrigeration; fire safety and environmental consultancy, has confirmed that it will once again be the Gold Sponsor in 2014, having already been Gold Sponsor in 2012.
Level of sponsorship is determined by the number of teams each company submits. Three amateurs play in a pro-am format on the first day with a golfing professional to guide them round the challenging Par 72 Deer Park Course.
Other Deer Park Masters Team regulars included Rippin; Woodbridge Timber; PDM and Scotia. A highlight this year was a hole in one at Hole Three for Jamie More of Grangemouth Plumbing firm Carrtech.
Conceived by Muir Group Chairman John Muir and Deer Park Golf Course Lieutenant Stuart Cruickshank as a means of supporting the golf professionals of Scotland and at the same time enabling amateur golfers to gain valuable insight into the game they love by playing with the professionals in a pro-am format, The Deer Park Masters offers PGA Tartan Tour Order of Merit Points; has substantial prize money up for grabs for the professionals and prizes for the best amateurs. Each of the two days sees 50 pro’s from the order of merit qualifying round taking part each playing with three amateurs in pro-am format.
Further details www.deer-park.co.uk
