Golfers Tee Up £1000 Donation To SCAA

A transatlantic golfing alliance has marked its seventh anniversary with a donation of £1000 to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA).

The Friendship Cup was established in 2019 to help forge meaningful relationships between golfers in the United States of America and Scotland, while at the same time raising money for charity.

The majority of the Americans come from Utah, while the Scots comprise members from Blairgowrie, Carnoustie, St Andrews, Crail, Scotscraig and Montrose.

The competition is contested home and away each year, with additional golf events held throughout the year.

Funds raised from events are donated to designated charities, with SCAA this year’s choice of Blairgowrie Golf Club captain Alistair Batchen, who is also skippering the 2026 Team Carnoustie.

Mike Beale, SCAA founding trustee, said: “We were delighted to accept a donation of £1000 from The Friendship Cup in Scotland.

“SCAA plays a vital role in the country’s emergency responses network, often reaching people in critical situations where time is everything. Whether a motor biker, horse rider, mountain biker or walker, older or younger, in the city or in the country, SCAA is there to help anyone who has suffered an accident or medical event. We believe that no one should suffer because we could not get there in time.

“However, none of our work would be possible without our donors and our volunteers, who play a vital role is supporting our charity to operate, spread awareness and raise support.

“Our £10 million a year running cost is funded totally by voluntary contribution and comes from a myriad of sources – a lottery, corporates, events, legacies and individual giving to name but a few.

“Blairgowrie Golf Club, through the good offices of the current captain, Alistair Batchen, is one example and the donation of £1000 from The Friendship Cup in Scotland shows how far the tentacles reach.”

SCAA has flown more than 7500 missions since its launch in 2013 and operates 365 days a year from its bases in Perth and Aberdeen.

Rod Sturrock, chairman of The Friendship Cup in Scotland, said: “SCAA plays a hugely important role as an emergency responder in Scotland and we were delighted to officially partner with them this year. It gave us great pleasure to donate £1000 to such a worthy cause and we hope it will help them keep up the great work they are doing.”