| SCOTLAND
SHOWS UNITED FRONT TO RYDER CUP COMMITTEE First
Minister Henry McLeish pulled together all of Scotland’s resources and expertise
as he presented t he country’s bid to bring the 2009 Ryder Cup to Scotland. Mr
McLeish told the Ryder Cup Committee at Stirling Castle that he was "confident
that what you will see tonight will demonstrate to you that Scotland is the best
– and indeed the only – choice for 2009." The
First Minister said: "I
am genuinely delighted to be here this evening to lead our Ryder Cup presentation
to you. Tonight’s event represents the culmination of months of effort in which
we have worked hard to persuade you to bring the Ryder Cup to Scotland in 2009.
This is a very special occasion for those us in this room and for the Scottish
nation who so passionately want to see the Ryder Cup return to Scotland for the
first time in more than thirty years. A special occasion deserves a very special
venue. I hope you will agree that tonight’s venue fits the bill. "So
why are we doing this? The Ryder Cup is a great event. It is one of the flagships
of the sporting world. It brings with it great prestige, great economic benefit
and great enjoyment to millions. "You
have the task of deciding where it will go eight years from now. In the last year
you have become the undoubted experts in every aspect of staging the 2009 event
as you travelled across the UK visiting potential venues. I am confident that
what you will see tonight will demonstrate to you that Scotland is the best –
and indeed the only – choice for 2009. "You
will hear from leading figures in Scottish public life. From those who look after
Scotland’s environment. From Corporate Scotland. From Ryder Cup stars – past and
present. From our top public servants. And from one or two of Scotland’s favourite
sons. They share my commitment to provide everything you need to make this the
best Ryder Cup ever staged. "This
bid is presented on behalf of Scotland, representing Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Loch
Lomond and Turnberry – our 4 partner venues. We want you to choose Scotland as
the host country. That is our priority. Once Scotland has been chosen, we will
then support whichever venue you select For
the investment we make in golf over the next 10 years we will: "In
Scotland, golf is an intrinsic part of our way of life. Over 650,000 people play
golf in Scotland on some of the best courses in the world. We have embraced the
professional game – we have some of the biggest prize funds in Europe and our
crowds are some of the most supportive and knowledgeable in the world. Put all
this together and you have the indefinable magic that is Scottish golf. "I
have often said since becoming First Minister that I want to build a confident
Scotland. A Scotland that is at ease on the world stage. A Scotland that plays
regular host to major international sporting and cultural events. Events do not
come much bigger than the Ryder Cup. Winning the right to host the 2009 event
would send an important signal that Scotland can compete at the highest level
and play host to global events. We have the confidence. I hope you share that
confidence." Endorsements
that will appear in the presentation to support Scotland’s bid. Sir
Sean Connery "Gentlemen
of the Ryder Cup Committee – in this bid for the 2009 Ryder Cup, we have spoken
of Scotland as the home of golf – and so it is. But like any home, it needs constant
attention. Scotland must and will strive to maintain its image as
the home of golf in order to ensure that future generations of Scots will also
have a proud golfing heritage. So when we say the "home of golf," we
are not being presumptuous– but rather, we are recognizing that this generation
has a responsibility to nurture the game. "This
is the challenge that Scotland has seized. We offer not merely the best courses
and finest hospitality in the world – we offer our ingenuity and our financial
support. We will invest many millions in the game of golf over the next decade
and beyond. We have created a national program whereby every youngster will be
introduced to the game – and have made golf a top priority in our national
sports development policy. We are also committed to securing the best tournaments
in the world for Scotland and to continually reinvigorate our golf industry. "These
are not the actions of a nation that believes it has a right to the Ryder
Cup. These are the actions of a nation that knows it must earn the privilege of
hosting the 2009 Ryder Cup. And that is why the Scottish government has enthusiastically
pursued the 2009 bid. The Scots recognize that the Ryder Cup will invigorate the
passion for golf in Scotland and throughout the world. "You
have a difficult decision, and I am sure that you have your own strategy for developing
and promoting the game. I wish to make it clear that the Scots have a strategy
too. Scotland does not wish to be a museum for the game – Scotland will continue
to be the nation that is recognized by golfers around the world as the true home
of golf. "We
offer you our vision and our commitment. And by doing so, we hope that you will
see Scotland’s bid as the winning bid. Thank
you." Sam
Torrance, Ryder Cup Captain 2001 "I’m
backing Scotland for the Ryder Cup in 2009 so that players and supporters of the
game across the globe can enjoy the best competition, on the best courses, with
the best hospitality – so that the dream of great golf can come home." Sir
Alex Ferguson "There
are no golf courses in Govan where I grew up – our options were football and boxing.
That is why I think that Scotland’s Ryder Cup bid can make a real difference and
I am proud of the opportunities that the Scottish Executive are giving to young
people by introducing every child to the game of golf by the time they are 9 years
old. This is a valuable initiative and one that may become the blueprint for all
sport in Scotland. "I
am delighted that First Minister McLeish and the Scottish Executive are making
such a strong commitment to bring the Ryder Cup to Scotland. I know that many
people will benefit from the investment that the Scottish Executive are making
in the game from the professional golfer to the youngster that will be given the
chance to play the game and that is why I am endorsing this bid. This will give
the game of golf the status it deserves in the nation that invented it "Scotland
needs the Ryder Cup - however I am also convinced that the Ryder Cup needs Scotland
and I look forward to attending the tournament in Scotland in 2009." Colin
Montgomerie I have
played in 5 Ryder Cups and I know the legacy that it can leave a host nation.
But what better legacy can a Ryder Cup leave than giving every child the opportunity
to play golf? "I know
that the Scottish Junior Golf Partnership can deliver this. That is why I am getting
involved in Scotland’s Ryder Cup bid and I am proud to be involved in the design
of facilities for young people. "This
initiative will have enormous benefit to both the PGA and the European Tour. It
will reinvigorate the passion for golf in Scotland, it will provide greater employment
opportunities for PGA professionals and it will provide increased audiences for
professional tournaments. "Of
course I want the Ryder Cup to be played on one of the magnificent courses in
Scotland in 2009, because I believe we would host the best Ryder cup ever. But
I also want it to take place in Scotland because it will leave an important legacy
for the young people of Scotland and for the game of golf." Sir
Jackie Stewart "I
am very happy to fully support the initiative to bring the 2009 Ryder Cup to Scotland.
There can be no country in the world that is more famous for golf. Our history
of golf, our etiquette and the rules of golf, have for so many years had their
roots in Scotland. Today, Scotland has developed with many new golfing facilities
to back up what our forefathers did so well to create in Scotland "The
Ryder Cup will give tremendous global television to Scottish golf and therefore
tourism to Scotland, where we can offer such tremendous hospitality. That is why
I am so supportive of getting the Ryder Cup to Scotland. I know there is a wonderfully
strong tournament programme that will allow global TV audiences to enjoy the magnificence,
the majesty and ruggedness of Scotland’s beauty and integrity. This will help
us to attract more tourists to Scotland. It is a wonderful initiative for such
an important golf match to be played in the country where golf was born." Andrew
G Brown - President of Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland "As
Ryder Cup Committee members will be aware the police service in Scotland has extensive
experience of policing major events such as the Ryder Cup. We regularly police
major football matches both at club and international level . We also have experience
of policing other major sporting events such as Rugby internationals and of course,
the Open Golf Championships. "While
we are not complacent, we can justifiably claim to have a proven track record
in this field. Our traffic and crowd management
methods are always subject to review to ensure that the major events which we
police are both safe and enjoyable for all concerned. "The
Police in Scotland very much look forward to working with the Ryder Cup organisers
to ensure that from a policing and traffic management perspective the 2009 event
is the best ever. ."We
look forward to working with you on what I am sure will be the best Ryder Cup
ever." John Markland,
Chairman Scottish Natural Heritage "Scotland
is known for its remarkable natural heritage and for our strong environmental
record. I am proud that over 300 courses here in Scotland, including the 4 potential
Ryder Cup venues, are undertaking a range of environmental best practices and
that all four have tackled environmental issues in a professional and credible
manner, which has resulted in good relations with environmental groups. "Scotland
is the only country pursuing a total golf strategy that covers long term environmental
sustainability and I am proud of this record." Peter
Burt - Group Chief Executive, Bank of Scotland "Bank
of Scotland has been committed to nurturing Scottish business interests since
its foundation in 1695. We believe it is in the interests of the Scottish economy
and the Scottish people to host the Ryder Cup in 2009. That is why we are supporting
Scotland’s Ryder Cup bid. "In
hosting the Ryder Cup, Scotland will deliver a world-class event, which will be
good for the Scottish people, good for Scottish business and good for golf." | 
