– Commemorative design created by a local student is brought to life as a Limited Edition Bag to be used by Callaway Staff Professionals at the 150th Open at St Andrews –
(Chessington, UK – July 11, 2022) On the eve of the 150th Open, Callaway today reveals a very special and unique Staff Bag, designed by a young student from St Andrews, that will be used by its 34 players at this week’s tournament.
Budding artists from two St Andrews schools – Madras College and St Leonards – were commissioned by Callaway and St Andrews Links to design a St Andrews inspired golf bag, and 17-year-old Iona Turner had her winning design chosen by Callaway executives and a team of Staff Professionals, from a shortlist of 10.
The Tour pro judging panel included Danny Willett, the 2021 Alfred Dunhill Links champion, and Min Woo Lee, who played The Old Course in reverse last year to commemorate the 200th birthday of four-time Open winner, Old Tom Morris.
As an extension of the design challenge, larger than life sculptures of the final 10, celebrating the creative excellence of pupils from each school, have been positioned in various locations around St Andrews running up to The Open.
These specially-commissioned sculptures formed a new attraction, The Big Bag Trail, a route from which locals and visitors can explore the town. It remains open until Sunday 17th July.
– Read more about The Big Bag Trail HERE
Iona’s winning design takes inspiration from many of St Andrews’ iconic and recognisable landmarks, including the famous Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole of The Old Course, the colourful houses by the harbour, the historic cathedral (where Old Tom Morris is buried), and the town’s beautiful seafront location.
After being selected as the winning artist, Iona said: “I’m thrilled that my artwork was chosen. It has been a fantastic experience to be involved in this design project with my fellow students. It will be a little bit surreal seeing my bag alongside some of the world’s best golfers, but I can’t wait.”
– Read more about Iona’s story and the 2022 July Major Bag HERE
Neil Howie, President and Managing Director, Callaway EMEA, added: “We have traditionally created limited edition Tour Bags for the Majors, both mens and womens, and always take inspiration from the region in which the event is staged. While keeping to the traditions of creating a bespoke Tour Bag, we recognised the opportunity to do something different in this special year for The Open.
“To engage the local community in this way and to go to local students and do something like this has been truly unique. What is brilliant is that it is just so visible, and to think that Iona has the potential to see one of our Staff Professionals in contention, with her bag visible to so many people, is just phenomenal.”
Neil Coulson, Chief Executive of St Andrews Links, concluded: “Huge congratulations to Iona on behalf of all of us at St Andrews Links on her spectacular and colourful winning design for the Callaway 2022 July Major Bag. I’m sure it’s a proud moment for her and her family and it’ll be special for her to see the bag in action.
“The public’s response to The Big Bag Trail has been incredible and allowed us to engage with local schools and the St Andrews community ahead of what will be a truly memorable Open at the Home of Golf.”
Following the conclusion of The Open, the 10 larger-than-life sculptures from The Big Bag Trail will be auctioned at a special evening event at the Tom Morris Bar & Grill in the St Andrews Links Clubhouse on July 19, with all proceeds going to CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland) and Scottish Sports Futures (Changing Lives Through Sport).
This special auction, that will celebrate the community acheivements of the bag design competition and The Big Bag Trail, is also accessible to the public, via bidder registration, from a virtual link HERE
The auction will be chaired by television personality and auctioneer, Charles Hanson.
For information about:
Callaway: eu.callawaygolf.com
St Andrew Links: www.standrews.com
Madras College: www.madras.fife.sch.uk/
St Leonards School, St Andrews: www.stleonards-fife.org
Childrens’ Hospices Across Scotland: https://www.chas.org.uk/
Scottish Sports Futures: https://ssf.org.uk/
CONTACTS:
Jack Seddon: Jack.Seddon@callawaygolf.com
Greg Pearse: Greg.Pearse@callawaygolf.com
Sue Page: Sue.Page@callawaygolf.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.com, www.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.
