Scot is director of golf at Pestovo Club near Moscow

Stephen Dundas appointed

national coach by Russian

Golf Association

FROM THIS WEEK'S PGA BULLETIN
By NICK RODGER
Former Tartan Tour player Stephen Dundas, the
1992 British Amateur champion who played in
the Masters the following year, is spearheading
a drive to nurture Russia's future golfing Tsars.
The 35-year-old Glaswegian, who beat Bradley Dredge
in the amateur final at Carnoustie having disposed of
Padraig Harrington in the earlier rounds, has been
appointed national coach at the Russian Golf
Association.
Dundas, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, during a visit to Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort during the 2nd Hacienda del Alamo Women's Winter Festival, spends seven months of the year at the
Pestovo Golf & Yacht club near Moscow where he is director of golf and the former Scotland amateur cap is now relishing the prospect of developing a game which is still very much in its infancy in a country of 140 million people.
"It's a very exciting time," said Dundas, who bases himself
near Alicante on the Costa Blanca during the winter.
"Golf is only about 15 years old in Russia and it's all
very new and still very elitist and I'm teaching everything
from the game's history, etiquette and rules. We have 25
to 30 courses in the whole of the country but there are
over 100 under construction.
"For kids it's probably not cool to be into golf but we still
have some very good young amateurs coming through.
We are trying to get others excited about golf by going
into schools and colleges and getting the message
across that the rewards and opportunities in the game
can be huge.”
Dundas, who has footballer Andriy Shevchenko on his
list of coaching clients at the Pestovo club, added:
"What I want to achieve is some structured approach to
coaching in the country. We need to teach the existing
pros how to coach and from there we can build up proper
coaching systems and develop the talent."
Dundas move follows on the heels of a recent
announcement for a PGA-branded golf course and
academy near Moscow.
The Bolshoye Zavidovo resort will feature a 7,300-yard
course called PGA National Russia and a PGA National
Golf Academy with a 9-hole course and extensive practice
facilities including an integrated short game range,
practice bays and swing studios.