The Muir Group, a privately-owned property development company based in Fife, has been unveiled as an official Tournament Partner of The PGA in Scotland.
For almost a quarter of a century, the Deer Park Masters Pro-Am has been a hugely popular and valued staple of the Tartan Tour’s rich and varied competitive menu. The alliance between The PGA in Scotland and the Muir Group, one of the domestic game’s most enthusiastic and enduring supporters, has been strengthened with the Deer Park showpiece cementing its position as a firm fixture of the Scottish circuit.
With the prize fund of this season’s Deer Park Masters Pro-Am increasing by 10 per cent as part of this new arrangement, the Muir Group’s long-standing commitment to professional golf in Scotland has been underlined.
“With the Deer Park Masters celebrating an incredible 24 years this year, we are immensely proud of the pivotal role we have played in supporting The PGA and its professionals throughout that journey,” said John Muir, the chairman of the Muir Group, whose support for the game in his homeland was recognised by The PGA in Scotland back in 2014 with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
“This exciting new partnership reinforces our commitment to The PGA and underlines our ambition to continue investing in Deer Park Golf and Country Club as a leading golfing destination in Scotland.
“We are delighted to showcase our course, which has benefited from significant investment in recent years, particularly across our greens and fairways. This ensures outstanding, year-round playing conditions for both our members and visiting golfers. We look forward to welcoming players and spectators alike to experience everything Deer Park has to offer.
“With continued investment and a strong focus on delivering top-tier facilities, Muir Group remains committed to supporting the growth of the game and providing an exceptional experience for golfers at all levels.”
Before the Deer Park Masters came on the scene, the Livingston venue, perched just off the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow, played host to the Scottish PGA Championship. In 1990, it was the site of Ross Drummond’s fourth win in the Tartan Tour’s flagship event. That same year, a young Paul Lawrie romped to a seven-shot victory in the Scottish under-25s Championship. Nine years later, he would become an Open champion.
Another player who prospered in this neck of the woods was the prolific Greig Hutcheon as he made Deer Park one of his happiest hunting grounds. Hutcheon, a dominant force on the Tartan Tour and a winner as a golden oldie on the over-50s Legends Tour in 2024, has claimed six Deer Park Masters titles in total including four-in-a-row between 2013 and 2016.
“It’s incredible to have won six of these titles since 2004,” said the Aberdonian. “It’s a little bit inexplicable as to why my form is so good here. When I first came to play here, I hadn’t had time for a practice round and on day one I had the course record. It’s all just snowballed from there and I have good memories on almost every hole.”
This strengthening of ties between The PGA, the Muir Group and Deer Park, was welcomed by David Longmuir, the manager of The PGA in Scotland.
“The Muir Group has been such a valued, long-standing supporter of the Tartan Tour and it is only right that this relationship is formalised in such a way that it becomes a Tournament Partner of The PGA in Scotland,” said Longmuir of a deal which sees the Muir Group join a portfolio of Tournament Partners which also includes Arnold Clark, Ramsdens Currency and Pro Scot Golf Tours.
“It has always been a pleasure to work with the team at Deer Park and Jill Page, who has been at the heart of this Pro-Am for many years. This has been one of our most enduring partnerships and we are hugely appreciative to all involved.”
This season’s Deer Park Masters Pro-Am takes place on August 4-5 and team entries can be made through The PGA in Scotland website or Jill Page at the Muir Group at jpage@muir-group.co.uk