Continuing the "Where have all the pros gone?" North-east Alliance debate

The world has moved on since the peak

pro days of the Alliance -- Colin Nelson

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin Nelson, who manages the MacKenzie Golf Shop at the Hazlehead municipal course, Aberdeen, could be said almost to straddle the two eras of professional participation in the North-east Alliance competitions.

As one of Ian Smith's assistants, Colin was given ample opportunity by his boss to play regularly, as did the other assistants, and "Smithy" himself .... down to the present day when Nelson is still supporting the NE Alliance but precious few of the other pros and assistants in the area are following his example.

Nelson, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, says that we have to accept that the world has moved on since the peak days of the North-east Alliance.

"So many things are different nowadays," says Colin.

"For instance most of the pros are self-employed now whereas they were paid a retainer by their golf clubs in the past.

"And the introduction of the minimum wage was a good thing for assistant pros but not so good for the pros that employ them. That extra money has to come out of their golf shop income.

"In defence of the club pros who do not play Alliance golf, I would say that more pros in the area have had to take on more responsibilities in the managerial side of golf clubs, which does not make it so easy as it once was, to lock up the shop and go off for the morning or afternoon to play in the Alliance.

"It probably costs a pro around £50 to play in the Alliance, when you consider the entry fee, the petrol, maybe something to eat or drink .. and he would have to have the best scratch score to recoup that and make a profit on the day.

"In the old days, a club pro was a club pro, nothing more, nothing less. Now the profession has so many different avenues. Some pros specialise in merchandising, some in repairs, some in giving lessons, etc. There's not much time left actually to play golf for some of them."

Would the Alliance be a more attractive proposition for the professionals and assistants, if there were two prize lists - one for the pros and the other for amateurs? Secondly, what if the first pro prize were say doubled to £200, would that be a big enough carrot to entice them to play?

"I cannot honestly answer that one on behalf of the pros who are staying away. I would certainly like to see a pros' prize list that has a bit more depth in it so that the £50 "expenses" I was mentioning earlier could be recouped by perhaps finishing fifth," said Colin.

+If you have a view you would like to air on the topic of professionals and assistants playing or not playing in North-east Alliance competitions, E-mail it to Colin@scottishgolfview.com