We want the 20th anniversary Dunhill to be one to treasure

The tough call was made last week to cancel this year’s running, set to be its 20th in the current format, because of logistics.

Hosting a golf tournament safely over three courses, and with over 300 golfers, including amateurs, was simply not feasible in the current climate.

But the event’s tournament director, Peter German, says organisers will soon be working towards 2021 and want to ensure the 20th anniversary will be one to remember.

Mr German said: “We’re going to plan for next year but don’t have things in place just yet.

“But it’ll be better next year and, with it being the 20th, we’ll be making it very special.”

The Dunhill creates a buzz around the communities in which it is held, as the biggest names of screen and sport arrive to compete at the famous pro-am.

Local businesses around north East Fife in the vicinity of host courses Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and St Andrews will feel the effect.

Those involved directly with the tournament will also lose out, and Mr German says he wanted to do everything in his power to stage the event this year, so they didn’t take another hit during an already tough period.

“One of the other reasons why we wanted to keep it going is because of the economy in St Andrews,” said the tournament director.

“The caddies will be losing out – they’ve lost out big time this year with no tourists.

“For the week of the tournament, it’s a good week for the caddies and we had specified that players had to use local caddies. They couldn’t bring their own – for the amateurs anyway.

“We tried earnestly to get the event played because of its importance to the local economy and local people.”