The Montgomery and Bruce courses at Kinross Golf Club have been named as the host venues for the 2010 Scottish Area Team Championship, which will be played for the first time under a new format this season.

The Championship also moves to a new date in the domestic amateur calendar, switching from its traditional end of season slot to an early summer date of 15 - 16 May, with Scotland's sixteen Area Associations competing for the country's most prestigious team titles.  The event timing means all of Scotland's leading players will be available to represent their Areas.

The revised format will see the 16 sides, made up of the 6 leading amateur golfers from each Area, playing two rounds of stroke play qualifying on the Saturday on both courses, with the four leading qualifying teams playing off in match play format in semi-finals and a final on the Sunday to determine the champions. The five lowest scores over the two qualifying rounds will count towards each team's aggregate score.

Hamish Grey, SGU Chief Executive, welcomed the move to a new date and format:

"The changes we have made to the Scottish Area Team Championship were vital to keep the event in line with our strategy of developing talent in Scotland, whilst also reducing costs on what was previously a very expensive Championship to run from both a national and Area perspective."

"Our new format brings together all sixteen Areas at a central location in what will be a celebration of amateur golf in Scotland. By introducing the stroke play qualifying, it will also allow players to compete for world amateur ranking points."

"We are delighted to be staging the first new version of the Championship at Kinross, which has two fantastic golf courses as well as excellent accommodation facilities for the teams and look forward to witnessing a great event in May," he added.

Located just off the M90 south of Perth, Kinross has two courses in the Montgomery and the Bruce. At 6,508 yards the Montgomery is the longer of the two, with the Bruce measuring 6,231 yards whilst both courses offer a testing but enjoyable challenge for accomplished and occasional golfers alike. Two hotels also form part of the Golf Kinross package, with the four-star Green Hotel and three-star Windlestrae located within close proximity of the courses.

Director of Golf at Kinross, Jamie Montgomery, said:

"The team at Kinross are very excited about hosting the Scottish Area Team Championship in May and look forward to seeing the country's leading amateur golfers overcome the challenges presented by the Montgomery and Bruce courses."

"It is a great honour to stage such a prestigious event, particularly being the first of a new and exciting format. I'm sure this will further cement our place on the golfing map in Scotland and encourage more golfers to Kinross over the coming months."

The Scottish Golf Union are still seeking a new sponsor for the Championship and any companies interested should contact Ross Duncan, Marketing & Sponsorship Manager, on 01334 466477.