Skip to main content

– Successful design project concludes with the auctioning of 10 larger-than-life sculptures created by pupils from two St Andrews schools –

(Chessington, UK – July 21, 2022) A total of £126,000 has been raised in a charity auction of The Big Bag Trail sculptures, a unique creative collaboration between partners, Callaway and St Andrews Links to commemorate the 150th Open.

The idea for The Big Bag Trail began when pupils from two St Andrews schools – Madras College and St Leonards –  were commissioned to design a Tour Bag that Callaway staff players would use at the 150th Championship.

To showcase the excellence of those designs, the sculptures of the final 10 were positioned in various locations around St Andrews, as The Big Bag Trail became a route from which locals and visitors could explore throughout the town, and proved to be a popular attraction for the record-breaking crowd of fans who flocked to attend this year’s Championship.

Following the conclusion of the event on July 17, which saw Aussie Cameron Smith become Champion Golfer of the Year, the sculptures were moved from their locations around the Home of Golf to the St Andrews Links Clubhouse where they were auctioned off by celebrity auctioneer Charlie Langhorn.

All proceeds from the auction will go to CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland) and Scottish Sports Futures (Changing Lives Through Sport).

Neil Howie, President and Managing Director, Callaway EMEA, said: “This has been a truly unique and wonderful project. Seeing the designs created by the young artists for the first time gave us a real sense that we were on the road to something special.

“But to see them come to life as these 10 beautiful sculptures, not forgetting Iona’s winning design that was made into the official bag used by our Staff Professionals during the 150th Open, has been an unforgettable experience.

“We’re delighted to have raised so much money for two such worthy causes, while also promoting the incredible community spirit that surrounds the Home of Golf.”

Kirsty McNab, CEO of Scottish Sports Futures said: “We’re delighted to have been involved in such an exciting and innovative project as the Big Bag Trail and would like to thank Callaway, St Andrews Links Trust and everyone else involved for raising an incredible amount of money that will make a real difference in people’s lives through the power of sport.”

Rami Okasha, CEO of CHAS, said: “When we first heard about the Big Bag Trail project we knew it was something unique and something that would capture the imagination of the public around The Open. We’re hugely grateful to Callaway and St Andrews Links Trust for their support in raising a significant amount of money which will greatly contribute to the work we do with children and families across Scotland ensuring no family faces the death of their child alone.”

The trail included the winning design by 17-year-old Iona Turner, whose creation titled ‘Nessie’s Round to Play’, was selected to be made into the official golf bag used by Callaway Staff Professionals competing at The 150th Open.

– Read more about The Big Bag Trail HERE
– Read more about Iona’s story and the 2022 July Major Bag HERE

Iona’s design, which took inspiration from many of St Andrews’ iconic and recognisable landmarks, including the famous Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole of The Old Course, was the most popular of the night, eventually leading to a final figure of £30,000.

Another design that proved popular at the auction was Lily Driscoll’s 150 Opens, 1 St Andrews. Peter and Linda Wood from Woodside Lodges, St Andrews felt Lily’s design “Depicted St Andrews perfectly in both the colour scheme and the design” and were successful in outbidding other interested parties.

Neil Coulson, Chief Executive of St Andrews Links, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the public’s response to The Big Bag Trail, both in person from those who attended The Open, and online from those who couldn’t be with us last week.

“It was a remarkable build up to The 150th Open, a phenomenal event both on and off the course, and now to have raised so much money for these fantastic charities is the icing on the cake.”

For information about:

Callawayeu.callawaygolf.com
St Andrew Linkswww.standrews.com
Madras Collegewww.madras.fife.sch.uk/
St Leonards School, St Andrewswww.stleonards-fife.org
Childrens’ Hospices Across Scotlandhttps://www.chas.org.uk/
Scottish Sports Futureshttps://ssf.org.uk/

CONTACTS:
Sue Page – Communications Manager, Callaway: Sue.Page@callawaygolf.com
Greg Pearse – Commercial Director, Callaway: Greg.Pearse@callawaygolf.com
David Connor – Communications and Marketing Manager, St Andrews Links: David.Connor@standrews.com

About Callaway Golf
Callaway Golf Company (NYSE: ELY) is an unrivalled tech- enabled golf company delivering leading golf equipment, apparel, and entertainment, with a portfolio of global brands including Callaway Golf, Topgolf, Odyssey, OGIO, TravisMathew and Jack Wolfskin. Through an unwavering commitment to innovation, Callaway manufactures and sells premium golf clubs, golf balls, golf and lifestyle bags, golf and lifestyle apparel and other accessories, and provides world-class golf entertainment experiences through Topgolf, its wholly owned subsidiary. For more information please visit eu.callawaygolf.com, www.odysseygolf.com, eu.travismathew.comwww.jack-wolfskin.co.uk and eu.ogio.com.

About St Andrews Links
St Andrews Links is responsible for the management and maintenance of the seven Links courses at St Andrews, including the world famous Old Course, host of The Open a record 29 times. St Andrews Links manages a number of additional facilities including three clubhouses, a golf academy and four shops. Around 230,000 rounds are played over the seven courses attracting visitors from around the world to follow in the footsteps of the world’s greatest golfers and become a part of golf’s rich history. For more information visit standrews.com

About Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)
Now in its 30th year, CHAS is the only charity in Scotland that provides hospice services for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions. The national charity offers palliative care and respite for the whole family via its two hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch. The CHAS at Home service supports families in their own homes across the whole of Scotland and has teams working in communities and hospitals across the country. In the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, CHAS also set up the country’s first virtual hospice, which has now been operational for two years.

Scottish Sports Futures
Scottish Sports Futures uses the power of sport and physical activity to engage with vulnerable and disadvantaged young people and families in Scotland and empower them to be confident, healthy, and happy. We do this using our proven and recognised Sport for Change model and its range of person-centred, youth-led programmes that provide positive experiences, inspiring role models, engaging social education, training, and youth volunteering opportunities.