WAAP Partner Strengthens Ties to Women’s Game

Edinburgh, Scotland: Trust Golf, a partner of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship, has strengthened its commitment to the women’s game.

The Thai-based technology enterprise, part of the TCT Corporation, will title sponsor this year’s Women’s Scottish Open, giving the event a major boost alongside a new long-term commitment from the Scottish Government.

Known as the Ladies Scottish Open since being established in 2007, the tournament will be renamed the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open as well as taking place at a new venue in Dumbarnie Links from August 12-15.

With the Scottish Government, through VisitScotland, confirming its on-going support of women’s golf through a five-year funding commitment to the Women’s Scottish Open, the introduction of Trust Golf as the new title sponsor sees a further boost for the co-sanctioned LPGA and Ladies European Tour event.

Founded by Dr Prin Singhanart, Trust works with the next generation of Thai golf professionals. The company will be on board with the WAAP for two years commencing with the 2021 championship which will be played from the revised dates of October 7-10 at Siam Country Club’s Waterside Course in Pattaya, Thailand.

Through its sponsorship of the Women’s Scottish Open, Trust aims to forge closer relationships with Scotland and to further develop its educational programme.

Dr Prin said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Scottish Government, IMG, the LPGA, and the Ladies European Tour as we look to bring our company’s ethos out into the wider world.

“This leading tournament offers us a wonderful platform to spotlight the work of Trust Golf and we really feel that there is no better place for us to take our next step than Scotland, the Home of Golf.

“We are honoured to partner with Visit Scotland who have done so much to support golf, and especially the women’s game, and excited to be part of Dumbarnie Links’ first professional golf tournament. I’m excited to see how we can develop this partnership in the future.”

The Scottish Government and VisitScotland have a long-standing commitment to women’s golf having supported the Women’s Scottish Open from 2007 and been partners of the AIG Women’s Open since 2011.

The country also hosted the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in 2019, setting a record for attendance at a women’s golf event. The new agreement will see the Scottish Government and VisitScotland continue to support the Women’s Scottish Open with investment of up to £6 million through to 2025.

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture Fiona Hyslop said: “Our long-term commitment to the Women’s Scottish Open underlines the important role women’s sport plays at the heart of a fair and equal society and I’m pleased that we are able to continue our support for a tournament that has grown into one of the most important on the women’s golf calendar.

“It is vital that we continue the momentum from hosting the 2019 Solheim Cup and maintain Scotland’s position at the forefront of the sport. We welcome the support of Trust Golf as title sponsor and look forward to working with them to ensure that women’s golf continues to be a positive force for good."

Dumbarnie Links is one of Scotland’s newest courses, making an immediate impression on golf aficionados worldwide when it opened in May 2020.

Situated on land that has a 1½-mile sea frontage with panoramic views over the Firth of Forth, it sits comfortably among the likes of St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Crail located just down the coastline.

Clive Clark, a former European Ryder Cup player and course architect who founded, designed and developed Dumbarnie Links, said: “We are very excited to be hosting our first professional event and are looking forward to showcasing our beautiful course to the global audience that follows professional golf.

“We are very much looking forward to seeing how the world’s best women golfers take on the challenges of Dumbarnie Links as well as partnering with Visit Scotland and Trust Golf.”

Ross Hallett, SVP, Golf Events at IMG, added: “At a time when the world is still dealing with Covid-19, and appreciating that there are big challenges in the world right now, it is undoubtedly a time to look to the future.

“This is exactly what Trust Golf, Visit Scotland and Dumbarnie Links have done in committing to this important women’s event in Scotland. Women’s sport has been disproportionally disadvantaged during the last 12 months and I know I speak for everyone at the LPGA, Ladies European Tour and all the players when I say how appreciative we are to all three organisations.”