Nairn Dunbar Golf Club is further celebrating its 120th anniversary this year following the announcement it will welcome one of the biggest amateur events in the world. Along with neighbouring The Nairn Golf Club, it will stage qualifying rounds for The Amateur Championship in 2021, one of the most coveted prizes in men’s amateur golf.
The accolade builds on Nairn Dunbar’s reputation as a host to leading amateur and professional events, including The R&A Boys Amateur Championship in 2017 and The PGA Northern Open in 2018.
From 14 – 19 June 2021, Nairn will host The Amateur Championship for the second time following the first occasion in 1994 when Englishman Lee James triumphed over Scotland’s Gordon Sherry.
It will be the 126th staging of The Amateur Championship which features a field of 288 world-ranked players with the winner earning a place in The Open and the following years US Open. Traditionally, the winner also receives an invitation to the Masters Tournament.
Robbie Stewart, who took over as new PGA Director of Golf at Nairn Dunbar just over a year ago, said: “We are delighted to be hosting qualifying rounds for The Amateur Championship in 2021, along with The Nairn Golf Club. This is one of the biggest events in amateur golf and we look forward to welcoming talented players from all over the world to our venue, together with working closely with The R&A.”
The news is also rich reward for Nairn Dunbar given the series of course improvements in recent years at the renowned Highland layout, founded in 1899.
“We take great pride in our course and can’t wait to see the best amateur players competing here in 2021,” added Stewart. “It will be a great thrill for all associated with the club and it also helps raise our profile in Scotland and beyond.”
Duncan Weir, Executive Director – Golf Development and Amateur Championships at The R&A, said: “We are delighted to be taking our 2021 championships to venues of the highest quality that will challenge the world’s leading men and women amateurs. Our aim is to provide the opportunity for those players to compete with their international peers and to show how good they are. Selecting outstanding venues is key and we are delighted to have such a strong schedule for 2021.”