advertisement for the Island poured cold water on Scotland's golf courses and slammed its climate.

The tartan tirade was launched after the latest campaign for Bermuda tourism took a swing at the international golfing mecca.

The Bermuda golf holiday ad -- dreamed up by a US firm -- bunkers Scotland's weather -- and claims the country is full of "damp castles and mediaeval B & Bs''.

The ad trumpets that Bermuda, which has eight golf courses, has "ocean views'' -- while Scotland's 500 are handicapped because "most Scottish courses have a view of a bog''.

But yesterday a spokeswoman for the Scottish Tourist Board, responsible for attracting 13.2 million visitors to the country last year, ruled the ad way out of bounds.

And the Weather Centre in Glasgow said statistics proved Bermuda was in the rough if it claimed it rained less here than in Scotland.

The Tourism Board spokeswoman said: "I suppose imitation is the sincerest form of flattery -- and Scotland is renowned as the undisputed home of golf.

"Scotland has 500 golf courses, from international standard to hidden gems, which are accessible and cheap with truly amazing backdrops -- no bogs.'' She added that the British Open championship will be held at Carnoustie this year, while the prestigious Walker Cup will also be held north of the Border.

The spokeswoman said Scotland boasted a host of five star hotels -- Bermuda has none -- including those attached to the governing body of golf's Royal and Ancient course in St. Andrews and at Gleneagles in Fife.

She said: "As Scotland is the home of golf, keen golfers tend to come and want to play on the courses where the most famous golfers play. If you want that, you have to come to Scotland.'' And she went through the roof when she was told of the ad's attack on hotel and guest house standards in Scotland.

The spokeswoman said: "We have a choice of budget accommodations to the best standards and class in the world.

"There certainly aren't damp castles provided or mediaeval B & Bs either.'' The US-targeted ad -- which features the crash of thunder and torrential rain -- also pours on Scotland's parade of attractions by criticising its weather.

But Bermuda had a total of 5.14 inches of rain last month and 59.12 in 1998 -- said to be about the same as London, according to guide books.

A spokesman for the Weather Centre in Scotland's biggest city, Glasgow, said rain averages varied across Scotland, with heavier rain in the west.

But he pulled out figures for the east coast Leuchars weather station in Fife -- little more than a good drive off a tee at St. Andrews.

The weather man said the St. Andrews area had just 1.64 inches in April and a grand total of only 26.6 inches for all of last year.

He added: "Apparently, we get a lot of people who come here from Mediterranean countries to avoid the heat.

"And people come partly for the spectacular Highland scenery -- part of the attraction is the mist and even the rain.'' Ironically, a tourism feature shown on the recent US whistlestop tour of major cities by Tourism Minister David Allen featured a piper in full Highland dress and a traditional Scottish dancer among the attractions of Bermuda.

And Mr. Allen -- whose mother was born in Edinburgh -- insisted no disrespect to Scotland was intended.

He said: "That certainly wouldn't have been the case. It's the advertising agency which developed it and it's not our main campaign, just a subsidiary one.

"It's meant to be tongue in cheek and satirical. No offence was intended to Scotland.''