International Pairs will be able to call upon the expertise of some of the finest photographers in Scotland when the fifth world final is held at St Andrews later this year.

The rapidly growing competition, the largest of its kind for club golfers in the world, has secured the services of the renowned St Andrews Photographic Society to capture the magic of the three-day event when it is held from September 21-23.

Members of the society will be hand to snap the opening ceremony on the first day when competitors from across the globe will march through the historic streets of the town accompanied by the St Andrews Pipe Band and schoolchildren from across Fife.

And they will then transfer their skills across to the fairways at The Duke’s, St. Andrews, as the players battle for the chance to succeed England’s Shaun Smith and Simon Deaves and be crowned 2008 International Pairs World Champions.

Ross Honey, chairman and founder of International Pairs, said: “To have some of the finest photographers in the area working with us is fantastic news for the competition.

“Here at International Pairs, we are always striving for something new, exciting and different and we believe the society will help give an extra creativity to the pictures.

“Pictures play a key role in conveying just what it means for some people to be playing in the world final and we can’t wait to see the different variety of images they can produce.”

The St Andrews Photographic Society, which was founded more than 50 years ago, has up to 45 members and specialises in a range of different subjects including sport, wildlife and landscape photography.

Stan Farrow, the society’s president for 2008-9, said: “We’re delighted to have been approached to photograph the world final and are looking forward to the experience.

“We have many experienced photographers in our membership who have exhibited their pictures both nationally and internationally and this will give them a chance to do something they have not done before.

“Some of the first photography started in St Andrews when they used to take pictures of golfers, and it seems fitting that we’ve now been asked to capture such an international event.”

With more than 80 competitors from 30 countries having qualified across the globe to compete at the 2008 International Pairs World Final, the competition has come of age in the last two years.

In addition to previous years, a series of competitions are also being run at schools throughout the Kingdom of Fife and are designed to test the pupils’ art, design and research skills - as well as their skills on the putting green.

And Provost of Fife, Frances Melville, who will perform the tournament's opening ceremony, will be on hand to present the winning children with their prizes.

Honey added: “The help and support we have received in organising this year’s event, from the schools in the region who recognise what we are trying to achieve to local bodies like Fife Council, has been marvellous.

"We are anticipating staging a fantastic event in September at the Home of Golf.”