VisitScotland has urged more golf courses to take part in its Drive It Home campaign, part of the tourism agency's Homecoming Scotland celebrations.

Phase one of the promotion, which entices golfers to book a trip to Scotland with a free four-ball at participating courses, saw thousands from the USA, Canada and Sweden claiming the offer via a website set up for the promotion (www.driveithome2009.com).

According to VisitScotland, the offer proved so popular that golfers were registering for a four-ball every five minutes of the day with all four-balls for the first phase already claimed.

As a result, VisitScotland claims that the campaign has created the potential to generate a £14.3m to the Scottish economy this year, with the average international golfer spending £1,790 whilst on a trip.

The second phase is set to go live from late March with thousands more four-balls across Scotland’s golf clubs expected to be claimed across the world.

So far 100 golf courses have registered their interest to participate, with additional courses now being encouraged to get on-board.

First minister Alex Salmond said: “Scotland is the undisputed ‘Home of Golf’ - we have the best courses in the world and facilities that are second to none.

“Golf is a key theme of our Homecoming celebrations and Drive it Home has the potential to attract more than 8,000 international golfers to Scotland and create £14.3m in additional income for the Scottish economy."

Drive It Home is a VisitScotland promotion delivered in collaboration with the Scottish Golf Union, Golf Tourism Scotland and Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association.