THE BIGGEST WEEK OF THE YEAR

THE 112th Carnegie Shield gets under way on Sunday and club captain Gary Bethune has been reflecting on what it means to Royal Dornoch.

The famous trophy enjoys a prime spot in the new clubhouse, with a video loop showcasing the engraving skills of Glasgow silversmiths commissioned by Scots-born industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1901.

“Quite simply, The Shield is the big week of the year at the club and everyone is looking forward to it,” said Gary, whose name appears twice on the Shield honours board.

“Primarily it is a scratch tournament for 270 players and when we announce entries are being taken early in the year it is always oversubscribed.

“People from all over the world come here to play in it and we welcome back many regulars year after year.

“This is the first time our new clubhouse will have hosted Shield week and the atmosphere will be fantastic.

“It’s always a very sociable time and this year will be no different in our plusher surroundings.

“Rest assured there will be some great golf on show, and as ever there will be a deserving winner at the end of the week.”

As a youngster, like his classmates at Dornoch Academy, the Shield would feature in Gary’s sporting daydreams.

“Growing up in Dornoch, the Shield was what every golfer wanted to win,” he explained.

“As kids trying to hole a six-footer on the putting green, we were pretending it was to win the Shield. At other clubs around the country, it would be for The Open.

“The Shield is something we are very proud of.

“The workmanship by the silversmiths is incredible and now that we have the video loop alongside it in the cabinet even long-time members like myself are seeing finer details we hadn’t picked up on before.

“It features town landmarks like the Cathedral, the Castle and of course Skibo, which Carnegie made his home, and the Lion and Eagle represent the close ties we have enjoy with the USA, where he had made his fortune.

“Carnegie was a fervent golfer and vice-president at the club, where he was a regular visitor.

“Along with the impact Donald Ross later made on golf in the States, he paved the way to the enduring relationship Dornoch enjoys with American golfers.

“I’m glad to say those links are stronger than ever, particularly through our relationship with Pinehurst and the Country Club of North Carolina.”