By Craig Swan
Genesis Scottish Open chiefs believe the Sixth Hole Stadium experience will take fans inside the tournament and inspire a new generation of golf fans and stars. The par-three has rapidly become renowned as one of the must-go-to spots for fans at Renaissance and further improvements to last year鈥檚 set-up promise magical moments. As well as being fully enclosed with grandstands, screens and platforms, there will be a new children鈥檚 area designed to take kids closer to their heroes alongside an expanded Ticket+ offering and a Genesis public lounge, featuring a TGL simulator. During the Wednesday pro-am, young fans will once again have the chance to walk the hole with some of the stars of the event and even get the chance to hole a putt. From Thursday鈥檚 first round onwards, the highlight hole-in-one competition offers the chance for players and fans to win. The first golf star who aces the sixth will win a Genesis GV60, while the first fan to correctly predict the individual will win a VIP experience and tickets to the Genesis Championship in Korea, including business class return flights and accommodation. Genesis Brand Advisor Graeme Russell explained the key elements to the ideas as he said: 鈥淕olf fans in Scotland and the UK are always very knowledgeable, very learned on the game, very respectful of the interaction with the players. So, we鈥檙e really trying to create that family atmosphere and really welcome the next generation of golf fans. . 鈥淪omeone who might be new to the game, or coming to a tournament for the first time, or follow their favourite player on social media, how can they engage and interact and feel part of the experience and atmosphere at the sixth hole. That鈥檚 what we鈥檙e really trying to do with the stadium seating which has improved this year, together with the new hospitality experiences. 鈥淲e鈥檒l have the Genesis public lounge and then the Kids鈥 Viewing Zone and we鈥檙e hopeful that, certainly on the pro-am days, the players will interact with the younger fans and create a real energy, a real buzz, a real sense of excitement on the tee and, hopefully, that the players will also respond well to that. 鈥淚 think you鈥檝e got the location. It鈥檚 in the middle of the front nine, it鈥檚 close to the 18th, it鈥檚 near the clubhouse, it鈥檚 a natural gathering point, it鈥檚 very easy to access for fans and there鈥檚 a lot of other facilities and experiences around. The amphitheatre type effect starts at the tee and goes down both sides to the end of the hole, and we want fans of all ages with an interest in golf to be able to interact. 鈥淚 think introducing the next generation of golf fans is really important for the sport and having them able to witness their favourite golfers on a par-three where they can, ultimately, see the end result of the shot as well, compared to a par four or five where you may not know how the player finishes the hole. So, a lot of great stuff is going on there. 鈥淲e have a hole-in-one competition. Fans can sign up and, if the player that they select goes on to score a hole in one, then the player will win the Genesis GV60 car, and the fan will win a trip to the Genesis Championship in Korea, it鈥檚 encouraging fans to have a stake in the action. 鈥淚 think you鈥檝e seen comments from other tournaments, certainly at the Masters where the feedback is the fans and the patrons are part of the tournament experience for the players as well. They create the atmosphere, they create the setting, the backdrop that the players appreciate, . 鈥淚 think we鈥檝e always felt that, if we look after the players, the caddies, and if they鈥檙e playing well and enjoying the experience, that enjoyment translates to the fans and it comes back from the fans. 鈥淚t really is about everyone being vested in creating and elevating the Genesis Scottish Open and I think that鈥檚 one of the key success factors over the years. 鈥淭he elements that can be experienced over the course over those four days mean you see some wonderful shot making, you see some wonderful creativity from the golfers. Hopefully we鈥檒l see that reflected in really strong spectator attendance, and lots of golf fans really enjoying the full experience. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got the concert as well on the Saturday night with KT Tunstall, so it really is an event and experience for everyone to come and enjoy, as well as a world-class golf tournament.鈥 Genesis is the title sponsor of the Genesis Scottish Open, the first ever co-sanctioned event by DP World Tour and the PGA Tour. For more information visit www.genesis.com