Sports presenter Eilidh Barbour is set to play the HGL Pro Am. Here's a Q&A which explores her interest in golf.
Eilidh having an enjoyable round with Heather MacRae (PGA Golf Professional & LET player) at Gleneagles.
Where are you from
- Dunkeld in Perthshire
When did you take up golf and why
- Both my parents play so we would play from time to time on family holidays and things, small pitch and putts mostly, and I played sporadically in my late teens early 20’s but took the game up properly around 4 years ago. Being self-employed I began to find I had the time to enjoy it and spend more time playing which brought that addiction golf can have on you and trying to get better. I’m still trying! Unfortunately I had a pretty nasty injury a couple of years ago so had a year or so where I couldn’t play and I missed it a lot. It’s good to be back!
What was the first course you played
- It must have been Dunkeld and Birnam, I don’t really remember though
What handicap are you playing off
- 27
Favourite club in your bag
- Probably my hybrid, although I do love to let loose with the driver
Best round ever
- Recently on the Queen’s at Gleneagles. Came back in 35 scratch which, for me, was pretty good! Net 65 in the end
Bucket list course(s) you have still to play
- How long have you got?! Obviously I’m very fortunate to go to Augusta National for The Masters so to get my name pulled out of the hat for the Monday media day would be incredible. My brother spent a year or so living in the Lofoten Islands and there’s a golf course there that has mind blowing scenery. Also the sandbelt in Australia is on the bucket list. But there are still loads right here from Cruden Bay to Durness to Brora to the newly developed Machrie to Machrahanish to Royal Dornoch which I’ve never played and am really looking forward to. And many more!
World Cup Final or a golf major – if you had to choose just one to cover, which would it be
- Tough!!! I think it would depend if Scotland were there. Covering the Women’s World Cup last summer and seeing Scotland part of it for the first time, and the first time in any football World Cup wince I was at school, was incredibly special. Hopefully the men can follow them soon. But golf majors are up there as the best working weeks in the year. And last year will take some beating with Tiger winning at Augusta and Shane Lowry at Portrush, two stories I’ll always feel very privileged to have covered.
Eilidh Barbour: sports broadcaster - BBC Sport, Sky Sports, Prime Video. Follow Eilidh on Twitter @EilidhBarbour. For more info: tonguetiedmedia.co.uk
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