A new partnership organisation has been set up to develop golf tourism in Perth and Kinross leading up to and following the 2014 Ryder Cup.

The Perth and Kinross Golf Development partnership (PKGDP) will see the local council work alongside golf clubs, accommodation providers, Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Golf union and VisitScotland, to develop an action plan to attract more golfers and tourists to the area.

A report commissioned by the council shows that the economic value of golf to the area is around £12.8m annually, supporting 400 jobs.

The report said that the Ryder Cup, which is being held at Gleneagles, could lead to a 28 per cent increase in the value of golf tourism to Perth and Kinross up to 2020, representing an additional £17m of expenditure for the local economy.

Councillor Joe Giacopazzi said: “Perth and Kinross has a wealth of high quality golf courses that range from the internationally-recognised PGA course at Glenneagles, to the highly regarded Blairgowrie course and many other scenic nine-hole courses.

“The collaboration will help the development and marketing of Perth and Kinross as a top golfing destination, and will enable us to compete with other destinations in and outside of Scotland.”