Former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie this week hailed the “fantastic” £3 million refurbishment of the Dormy clubhouse at Gleneagles.
Montgomerie, who lives near Dunning, thinks the Perthshire course will be a fitting place to hold the tournament in 2014.
The refurbishment is part an ongoing development programme for Gleneagles and follows £18 million that has been spent since 2007. The design of the refurbished Dormy clubhouse includes the introduction of the Mitchell Room.
This is named after Abe Mitchell, the first player/captain of the GB team in the international match played at Gleneagles in 1921 the forerunner of the Ryder Cup and the man on the trophy.
Monty said he was delighted to be asked to unveil a plaque marking the clubhouse’s official reopening.
“This is a fantastic facility,” he said. “I have used the facilities here and actually eaten in the clubhouse too. They’ve done a great job.”
Monty added, “We had a good contingent down in Wales (Celtic Manor) in 2010 looking at the course there and I’m sure Gleneagles will come up the plate for the Ryder Cup everything is in place.
“As a player and chairman of the Johnnie Walker Championship, I am very familiar with Gleneagles and the ongoing plans to host the 2014 Ryder Cup matches. And as a former Ryder Cup captain I know exactly what facilities are required.
“This newly-refurbished Dormy clubhouse offers everything a player at any level could need.”
Monty admitted that the Gleneagles course had “taken a bit of flak” over the years in golfing circles, but he believes that it will be up to standard by the time the Ryder Cup comes to Perthshire.
“There was a six-year plan for the course here and we have two years to go,” he continued. “I played the King’s Course here not that long ago and it was extremely dry. The greenkeepers were praying for rain and they have now got it.
“The Ryder Cup is getting bigger and better and I am sure Gleneagles will better the facilities in Wales and be worthy of this five-star building.”