Ryder Cup Legend Paul McGinley unveiled as new Captain of the Ballantine’s Golf Club

Paul McGinley takes over captaincy from Ian Poulter

Ballantine’s, the world’s No 2 Scotch whisky, has today announced the new Captain of its online Golf Club; Paul McGinley. McGinley will be taking over the reins from last year’s Captain Ian Poulter. As winning Ryder Cup captain in 2014, McGinley brings a wealth of expertise and skills to his new role as Captain of the unique virtual Golf Club. He exemplifies leadership, hard work and perseverance – traits that have been on display throughout his career and that he will bring to his captaincy, building on Poulter’s success as the Club continues to grow across the globe.

The Ballantine’s Golf Club is the first online global golf club of its kind and was officially launched last year at the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open. Membership to the Ballantine’s Golf Club is free and members receive unique access to exclusive content, invitational events, whisky tastings, VIP hospitality and a range of rewards, as well as the chance to meet and play with top players and participate in a member-only global tournament.

At this year’s launch event, which was hosted by leading sports presenter Di Dougherty, Ballantine’s also premiered McGinley’s ‘Moment of Truth’ (above) – a mini-documentary offering a unique insight into his golfing back story, the obstacles he has overcome and the strength of his character that laid the foundations for his Ryder Cup successes. The short video shows how McGinley overcame a serious knee injury at age 17 to have an outstanding career and become one of the greatest Ryder Cup Captains of his generation. It illustrates his leadership qualities and how he made team spirit such a key ingredient to Ryder Cup success.

Throughout the season, www.ballantinesgolfclub.com will be updated with further exclusive content including ‘Shot Makers’, which features swing and course management tips from McGinley and ‘Captain’s Diary’ updates from Paul, where he will give insights into various chapters of his career and his life on the tour.

Paul McGinley, Ballantine’s Golf Club Captain, commented: “It is an honour to take up the position of Captain of the Ballantine’s Golf Club; I’m really excited to be part of and lead this special online community. 2015-2016 is set to be a great year for the Club and I look forward to helping it grow from strength to strength.”

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s, added: “We have a rich, longstanding heritage in golf dating back to 1960 and the Ballantine’s Global Online Golf Club has marked a significant shift in our strategy within the sport. We have created a unique online experience for those with an appreciation of both whisky and the true spirit of golf. Our newly appointed Captain, Paul McGinley, will continue to drive the success of the Club and we believe his leadership on and off the course will inspire golf lovers to join the Club and unlock the exclusive member benefits.”

The launch of the Golf Club was inspired by Ballantine’s ‘Stay True’ positioning, which serves as an invitation to consumers to express themselves in a genuine and authentic way, applauding conviction and self-belief. The identity of the Golf Club reflects its members’ modern lifestyle and aspirational outlook, building on Ballantine’s strong heritage in golf in a contemporary and innovative way.

Membership to the Ballantine’s Global Online Golf Club is now open at http://www.ballantinesgolfclub.com/