Tartan Tour opportunities for WPGA Members

WPGA members will have additional playing opportunities in the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Ladies Tartan Tour.

The five 36-hole stroke-play tournaments are being run under the auspices of The PGA in Scotland but will be opening to all WPGA Members.

The series of two day events is taking place at high profile Scottish venues - Fairmont St Andrews, Murcar Links, Dundonald Links, Macdonald Cardrona and Marriott Dalmahoy. Each will have a prize fund of £6,000.

The first event will be held at Fairmont St Andrews in April and the last - the Tour Championship - at Marriott Dalmahoy in September when Heather MacRae, above, will be defending the handsome trophy, donated by Aberdeen hotel owner Stewart Spence.

It will be the first of the PGA's seven regions to run both men's and women's professional circuits from its headquarters at Gleneagles.

It is a feather in the cap of Brian Mair, appointed PGA in Scotland secretary last year, and he is excited that The PGA in Scotland will have the opportunity to lead the way forward.

He said: "The PGA in Scotland is committed to providing all our members with professional, competitive playing opportunities throughout the country and we very much look forward to supporting ladies golf during 2014 and beyond.

“This represents an important step in our quest to promote the game to all sectors of the community and to reach as wide an audience as possible".

“The tour is open to all female professionals and amateurs with single-figure handicaps and it is not restricted to Scottish-based players.”

Paul Lawrie (pictured up with tournament director Nicola Melville and Mair) has been instrumental in the Ladies Tartan Tour switching its emphasis from one-round to 36-hole events.

"We want to provide a platform for the lady pros and amateurs to prepare for the day when they tackle the Q School and beyond by getting them used to playing two-round tournaments," he explained.