Friendship Cup golf tournament returns to Utah

Next week the Ryder Cup will pit the USA against Europe. This week, the annual Friendship Cup golf tournament was contested. It’s a Ryder Cup like event that matches golfers from Scotland against a …

SPRINGVILLE, Utah (ABC4 Sports) – Next week the Ryder Cup will pit the USA against Europe. This week, the annual Friendship Cup golf tournament was contested. It’s a Ryder Cup like event that matches golfers from Scotland against a team from Utah.

The Scots and the Americans started the Friendship cup nearly a decade ago. The teams play matches in Scotland, then resume the match at Sand Hollow. But this year, before the Scots headed south, they played a friendly round at Hobble Creek golf course in Springville. And there’s nothing like that in Scotland.

“It looks fantastic,” said Ian Gillanders. “Just first thing in the morning, the hills all around us, the trees. It’s just beautiful.”

“Absolutely beautiful,” said Stuart Wilson: “It’s a stunning morning here at Hobble Creek. I had a look at the website. It looks fantastic out there. And I know they’ve told us we’re in for a real treat, so we’re excited to get going and meet some of the members and play some golf. Really looking forward to our trip this week.

“Really looking forward to our trip this week,” said Allister Batchen. “First trip to play Hobble Creek. I have played Sand Hollow.”

“The first time to some of the mountain courses, it’s a real treat,” said Wilson. “This was certainly the first time they’ve played in America and certainly in Utah and going down to the desert. Of course, this is a totally different prospect. So I’m sure she’ll get a nice, pleasant surprise when they get there and enjoy the whole week.”

When the competition moved south to Sand Hollow, the Scottish team came away with the victory. But this event is not about winning and losing.

“The winning is absolutely about friendships and relationships,” said Mark Leavitt. “I think if you talk to any of the Scots, you talk to any Americans and everyone feels like a winner.”

The golf week wraps up with the Charity cup. Celebrities and sponsors get to play with the Scottish players, and its become a great event.

“Oh, it is so fun to play with the guys from Scotland,” said Jay Schroeder. “And it’s grown. I mean, the first year there was about ten or 12 of them that came over and now there’s 32 and the teams that are from here, it’s just it’s a great event and they’ve raised a lot of money over the years and we have a blast. That’s, that’s the best part about it. They’re just good guys and we’re building friendships and doing some good work too.”

“When you have a chance to associate with the good people here in this country and then add to all of our friends that are coming across the pond from Scotland,” said Gifford Nielsen. “It’s a pretty special situation just to listen to their accent and to hear the way they talk and to see the way they hit golf shots. It’s just a remarkable thing. It’s just so much fun, so enjoyable to be together and once again for a great cause.”

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Source: Utah News