A COLLABORATION between golfers in Scotland and the United States has raised thousands of pounds for dementia charity, Carnoustie Memories.
The Friendship Cup was established five years ago and brings players together from both countries to help build long lasting relationships and enhance the history of Scottish golf.
The cup happens annually and is held home and away each year, with matches played over two host courses as well as many additional golf events held throughout the eight day visits.
Players come from all over Scotland, hailing from St Andrews, Crail, Scotscraig, Ladybank, Blairgowrie and Carnoustie itself and the US players also come from all over their country with the majority of the players being Utah-based.
The organisation collaborated with Golf Memories Carnoustie earlier this year, with the aim of raising funds for the group and helping improve the lives of people living with dementia, and to kickstart the relationship the Friendship Cup has made a substantial gift to the group.
Golf Memories Carnoustie was launched in 2015 and supports local golfers living with dementia, who loved the great game but who can no longer walk the links as before.
The group meets regularly within Links House, the new golf centre at the famous Open Championship venue in Carnoustie, reconnecting golfers with their passion and sharing memories together.
The most recent fundraising event saw two golf days at Panmure golf course bringing in £1,300 to bring the total of this year to more than £3,500.
Founder of Carnoustie Memories, Lorraine Young, said: “Previously we have talked about what we wanted to do with our members and now with these donations we can actually do them. It genuinely makes a huge difference to people’s lives
“Money like this is a gamechanger for us and I’m extremely grateful to the Friendship Cup for their support.
“Seeing our members so engaged and listening to their memories flowing on special days out to venues such as the World Golf Museum in St Andrews is so rewarding.
“We want to enhance the experiences of our members as much as possible and with the support of the Friendship Cup, we can now do that.”
Carnoustie Memories has expanded to now cover football as well as adding their own musical group, singing with friends.
The chairman of the Friendship Cup Scotland, Rod Sturrock, said: “Carnoustie Memories does a fantastic job helping people living with dementia by using golf, golfing memorabilia and other sports such as football to rekindle their members’ memories of the great game and help create many happy new memories for the member and their family.
“We are delighted to support and sponsor activities for Carnoustie Memories and hopefully the money raised will help the charity continue with the sterling work it is doing.”
