The professional at Montrose Golf Links is confident the course’s 450th anniversary celebrations will leave a lasting legacy.
Jason Boyd has been a pro since 1990 and qualified as a class A professional in 1995 at the PGA training school.
Having been at the famous Angus course since 2001, he has been a key member of the planning committee that will oversee a programme of events throughout the year including one of the holes being extended to 450 yards.
He said: ”We are looking to recreate what we believe to be the event in history in 1562 when there was the first recording of golf being played at Montrose.
”Among the many other events, we are planning that 450 golfers will be playing over the weekend of celebration at the end of June and our excellent greens staff have been devising the extension to one of the holes on the course to 450 yards.
”One aspect of the legacy of this year of celebration is that we have planned and have funding from two of our sponsors for a special day for junior golfers in the town in July.
”Furthermore our group are working with staff at Montrose Museum in planning a special exhibition to celebrate the 450th anniversary.
”In the coming weeks we will be in contact with other potential sponsors about helping to fund what we believe an exciting programme of events.
”We also welcome approaches from any business and organisations who wish to be involved.”
Montrose is the fifth oldest course in the world and is played by three separate golf clubs. Each of the clubs has been involved in planning the celebrations, which also have the backing of Montrose Area Partnership.
Convener of the 450th committee, Montrose councillor David May, said more than a year of work had already gone into the preparations.
He added: ”My committee have been working hard for over a year to devise a programme of golfing and social events to celebrate this historic and unique occasion of 450 years of organised golf in Montrose.
”This is a superb opportunity to not only market our classic links course but also our town as well as Angus as a whole.
”The fact that golf has been played in Montrose for over 450 years gives us a unique selling point, and through our programme of events we are trying to attract more and more people to Montrose to play golf and enjoy the challenge of our classic course.
”As well as attracting people to play we wish to showcase all the other attractions not only in the town but in Angus as a whole.”