It is the biggest competition in women’s golf, so when the Solheim Cup gets under way at Gleneagles, it is entirely appropriate that the police command team will also be an all-female affair.
Chief Superintendents Sharon Milton and Suzie Mertes, and Superintendent Maggie Pettigrew will take control of safety proceedings at the tournament next month.
It will be the first time such a major event has been overseen by an entirely female command team.
The trio will work with partners on issues such as security and traffic management as part of their remit to oversee policing for the entire event.
All three officers will bring a wealth of experience as commanders at major events in Scotland.
In 2005, Chief Superintendent Milton policed the G8 Summit at Gleneagles while more recently, she oversaw the Women’s Tour of Scotland cycling event earlier this month.
Chief Superintendent Mertes was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 2018 and has held numerous commander roles at major events, including T in the Park and the Ryder Cup.
Superintendent Pettigrew, a former local area commander for Perth and Kinross, was also a commander at the Ryder Cup in 2014 and The Open.
Chief Superintendent Milton said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles this year and it is fantastic to have a strong team, including for the first time we believe a command team made up of female officers, on hand to provide policing support to this major event.
“This is a great event for the area and we have been working closely with the event organisers and our partners to ensure golf lovers, their friends, and families have a wonderful experience at the Championship.”
With dozens of T in the Parks under their belts, the trio are expecting an altogether different experience at Scotland’s biggest sporting event this year.
The Solheim Cup is expected to draw in the region of 100,000 fans to the world-renowned PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles between September 9-15.
The event, which is fully funded by the Scottish Government, will see the top female golfers from Europe and the USA competing for the trophy.
