Golf legend Peter Alliss is being awarded honorary membership of Blairgowrie Golf Club.
The former Ryder Cup player and long-standing BBC “Voice of Golf” was guest of honour at a celebratory dinner held last year to mark the 40th anniversary of the Lansdowne championship course Alliss designed in tandem with his late partner Dave Thomas.
Now, eight times Ryder Cup star Alliss is joining an elite band of honorary members at the Perthshire club.
Alliss, 85, who will formally receive the accolade from club captain Brian Wesencraft at Kingsbarns in the summer when he visits Scotland for the Ricoh Women’s British Open, said: “I am delighted and honoured to be offered membership of the Blairgowrie Golf Club.
“I have enjoyed close ties to the club ever since Dave and I were invited to design the Lansdowne to complement the older Rosemount course.
“It was a privilege to follow in the footsteps of legendary course designers like Dr Alister MacKenzie and James Braid in creating a golfing legacy in this part of Scotland.
“My only regret is that living in the south of England I haven’t enjoyed as many opportunities to visit Blairgowrie as I would have liked. It genuinely is one of my favourite golfing venues.”
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Mr Wesencraft said: “We were delighted Peter and his wife Jackie could join us for the commemorative dinner here following The Open at Royal Troon.
“Because it required an agm resolution, we weren’t in a position to offer him honorary membership at that stage.
“We did name the 18th hole on the Lansdowne in his honour, calling it ‘Alliss Hame.’ It was always our intention to offer Peter honorary membership and I’m delighted to say that has been approved unanimously.
“Peter joins an exclusive list of honorary members, including Gary Player, and our own amateur champions Glenn Campbell and Bradley Neil, winners of the Scottish and British amateur championships.
“Peter has always been very supportive of the golf club, memorably saying Blairgowrie ‘oozed charm and class,’ and rating it his favourite inland golf course.”
