The record-breaking success of this weekend’s Solheim Cup helped promote Perthshire to a global audience, tourism chiefs have said.
More than 90,000 fans turned out to watch the biennial tournament at Gleneagles, making it the busiest women’s golf event ever held in the UK.
Millions more watched the sun-kissed games on television, with more than 3,000 hours of broadcast coverage across 200 territories.
VisitScotland has praised organisers – including Perth and Kinross Council – for setting a benchmark for a family-friendly and accessible event, and fulfilling a promise of “equality, experience and innovation through everything from transport planning to on-course infrastructure and delivery.”
Hotels and guesthouses across the area welcomed thousands of tourists from across the US, while local councillors report an upswing in younger people taking an interest in golf.
Team Europe, led by Scottish Catriona Matthew, triumphed in a nail-biting climax on Sunday.
Paul Bush, Director of Events at VisitScotland said: “We set out four years ago to deliver an event that would take the Solheim Cup to the next level, and there can be no question that we have achieved that.
“Not only have we seen record crowds for a women’s golf event in the UK, we have set a new benchmark for accessibility and inclusion, as well as the quality and scale of infrastructure.”
He said: “Anyone who witnessed the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles can be left in no doubt that it was a major event, and one which proves that Scotland delivers on the international stage.
“We have provided an outstanding platform for the continued growth of women’s golf and women’s sport.”
Executive Tournament Director at sports organisation IMG, Ross Hallett added: “We are very proud of our role in delivering this world-class event that we believe was the best Solheim Cup to date, in keeping with the remit we were set by VisitScotland.
“This amazing journey started for IMG more than four years ago, and to see all that work play out to such a thrilling climax to a global audience was very satisfying.”
Figures released by VisitScotland showed that the there were more than 5,000 junior admissions to the four-day event, while about 6,000 showed up for the televised opening ceremony headlined by Scots rockers Texas.
