There'll hopefully be more holes-in-one than one-liners as some of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe's best-loved comics take on critics and industry members in the third VisitScotland McKenzie Taylor Memorial Golf Tournament, to be held at Duddingston Golf Course in Edinburgh on Thursday, 22 August 2013.

With just over a year to go until Scotland hosts the Ryder Cup in September 2014, golf in Scotland has never been more in the spotlight. The golf course at Duddingston, located in the shadow of the city's Arthur's Seat, was also the location for last year's tournament where the critics emerged victorious.

Those set to show-off their golfing prowess on the greens this year include Scottish comedy legend, Fred MacAulay who will be supported in the comics team by the likes of Carl Donnelly (from TV's Mock the Week), Jimmy McGhie, Chris Martin, New Zealand's Hannah Gadsby, and others to be announced. Heading the critics team will Tommy Holgate from the Sun alongside the Evening Standard's Bruce Dessau and comedy promoter, Tim Payne.

Comedian Fred MacAulay, who has played in tournament for the past two years, said:

"I'm really looking forward to golfing again with a great team of comedians. Not only are they funny, but some of them are pretty good golfers, too. We managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory last year, thanks in no small way to a fairway 3-wood shot of mine which went nine yards into a ditch. I hope it will be different this year!  It's great to be back golfing in Edinburgh -  not only is it home to the Fringe, but it is also a great place to play golf."

The McKenzie Taylor Memorial Golf Tournament, supported by VisitScotland, was established following the death of comedian and golf fan McKenzie Taylor who committed suicide in 2010 at the age of 32. The first tournament was held at Kingsfield Golf Club in Linlithgow in 2011.

The 2013 tournament commences at 11am on Thursday, 22 August, to consist of nine holes and to be played as mixed fourball.  The event will conclude with a trophy presentation.

For more information on golf in Scotland, please visit www.visitscotland.com/golf   

ENDS.

Details of Duddingston Golf Club

Duddingston Golf Club, Duddingston Road West, Edinburgh EH15 3QD 

0131 661 7688 secretary@duddingstongolf.co.uk

For more information please contact:

Erin Hickey, VisitScotland's consumer PR team: erin.hickey@visitscotland.com and 0131 472 2030.

Richard Bucknall, Richard Bucknall Management: richard@rbmcomedy.com and 07970 962 763  

Notes to editors

About VisitScotland

For attraction and accommodation offers go to www.visitscotland.com

VisitScotland is Scotland's national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.

For VisitScotland's press releases, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to www.visitscotland.org

Ryder Cup 2014
Gleneagles
In 2014, Scotland will host the biggest event on the global golf calendar for the first time in more than 40 years when the 2014 Ryder Cup comes to Gleneagles. The event will put Scotland's golfing credentials on the world stage as all eyes turn to the famous PGA Centenary Course for the 40th Ryder Cup matches.  This will be the first time Scotland has hosted the event in its capacity as the third largest sporting event in the world and it is expected to attract in excess of 40,000 spectators daily. www.visitscotland.com/golf