Mr Cole- Hamilton was joined by Stirling graduates, and golfing stars, Catriona Matthew and Gordon Sherry -Matthew and Sherry both won British Amateur titles whilst holding golf scholarships at Stirling in the 1990s before joining the professional ranks andMatthew has gone on to become Scotland's leading professional player, winning more than $800,000 on the US women's Tour last year.

The new facility, which boasts a short game practice area with three target greens, complements the existing driving range and indoor teaching room with modern video analysis equipment.

Professor Grant Jarvie, Head of the Department of Sports Studies, said:

“The investment of £180,000 in the new golf centre brings the total spent on sport by the University and its partners over the past five years to more than £10 million. We are grateful to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and the Macleod Foundation for being loyal to our vision for golf at Stirling. We have supported the development of golf since we first introduced golf scholarships in 1981 and are the only University in Britain to have on-campus golf practice facilities. This new centre will enable us to maintain our standing as the leading higher education institution in Europe for supporting talented young golfers. We hope that what we are achieving at Stirling will help reverse the trend of home grown talent heading to America to combine golf with academic study."

The opening ceremony included the unveiling of a plaque and a demonstration by current golf scholarship students Jamie Macleary and Richard Ramsay - two of Scotland's leading amateur players - and Catriona Matthew.