Staff WriterThe Genesis Scottish Open may be just one stop on golf’s globe-trotting calendar, but according to the latest analysis, it’s a hole-in-one for Scotland’s economy.
The 2024 tournament, held at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, delivered a whopping £19.2 million in net economic impact across the country — and not just in caddie tips and overpriced sausage rolls.
That’s the finding from MKA Economics, a Stirling-based consultancy that’s more accustomed to crunching numbers than watching birdies.
Their report shows the Genesis Scottish Open didn’t just drive golf balls — it drove commerce, supporting 234 jobs and attracting over 76,000 spectators across the tournament’s four days.
Of that total economic impact, a tidy £10.8 million came directly from visitors’ wallets. Whether they were spending on local accommodation, rounds of golf, or rounds of pints, they left an unmistakable footprint in the region — or rather, a footprint someone was paid to clean up.
Closer to the course, the East Lothian area saw £7.8 million in local economic benefit, a hefty 32% jump on the last comparable study in 2019. In plain speak? More jobs, more local pride, and probably a few very busy chip vans.
The Genesis Scottish Open, co-sanctioned by both the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR, is no sideshow. It sits proudly in the Rolex Series and plays a crucial role in the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai and the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup.
With Genesis — the South Korean luxury carmaker — as title sponsor, the event has successfully revved up its appeal, even among fans who think an eagle is something you see at the zoo.
“The Genesis Scottish Open draws thousands of visitors from around the world each year,” said Rob Dickson, Director of Industry and Events at VisitScotland.
“It plays a key role in growing Scotland’s visitor economy, while also delivering meaningful social and environmental benefits. This has been underlined by the new economic impact study.”
In 2025, the tournament returns as the curtain-raiser to The Open — the golf equivalent of playing Glastonbury the night before The Rolling Stones. But it’s not just about the golf anymore.
Alongside booming ticket sales and elite player fields, the Genesis Scottish Open is leaning into its responsibilities off the green as well.
This includes the Golf for Good initiative, which returns with a particular focus on education. Local schoolchildren will get career talks, backstage tours, and maybe even discover that there’s more to golf than shouting “fore!” and wearing silly trousers.
And let’s be honest — in this job market, learning you can make a living from logistics or lawn care might be more inspiring than watching someone hole a 30-footer.
Then there’s the DP World Tour’s Green Drive sustainability programme. Expect cleaner energy, less plastic, fewer lorries, and a more environmentally conscious crowd — even if they still leave behind a few crushed cups and lost sun hats.
A highlight this year will be the Better with Nature campaign, offering spectators a nature trail and scavenger hunt that might finally convince your kids that walking a golf course is, in fact, an adventure.
Topping it all off is a Sustainable Golf Symposium, which will bring together over 120 golf clubs, environmental stakeholders, and decision-makers to talk turf, trees, and tees — all under the shared goal of keeping golf green in more ways than one.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead put it plainly: “The Genesis Scottish Open is one of the centrepieces of Scotland’s sporting calendar and this report shows the very real benefits to come from staging such a significant international event.”
He also highlighted just how popular the event has become: “It is incredible that nearly 20,000 visitors headed to North Berwick every day for last year’s tournament.”
And as for Rory Colville, the Championship Director: “Spectator numbers are increasing year-on-year, and this new study shows that this is having a tangible economic benefit to both the local and national economy.”
With that sort of trajectory, it’s safe to say the Genesis Scottish Open has moved beyond just being a warm-up act. It’s now a headliner in its own right — drawing in big names, big crowds, and even bigger numbers for Scotland’s books.
So whether you’re a golf nut, a local hotelier, or just someone who enjoys a day in the sun with a sausage bap and a wee dram, you might want to circle the Genesis Scottish Open in your diary. It’s proving to be good for the game — and great for the country.
