Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Transition of leadng amateurs to pro ranks

Sandy Jones wants SGU to work
more in partnership with PGA

FROM THE SCOTSMAN NEWSPAPER WEBSITE
By Martin Dempster
Sandy Jones, the (Scots-born) chief executive of the Professional Golfers' Association, has called for his organisation to be given a louder voice in the bid to help Scotland's leading amateurs make a smoother transition into the paid ranks.
Jones, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, who was secretary of the PGA's Scottish Region before he took over the top post at The Belfry nearly 20 years ago, believes the experience of his members is not being utilised in the way it should be and is calling for a meeting with the Scottish Golf Union to discuss the matter.
Through support it receives from sportscotland, the SGU is taking the lead in an attempt to help top amateurs make the switch to the professional game much smoother, something it is hoped will improve a situation that does not make for good reading at the moment for Scottish golf as far as the world rankings are concerned.
"I think what we are all doing in Scotland is a hell of a lot better than what we were doing ten years ago," said Jones. "Since the Ryder Cup bid process, I think Scotland has moved on light years with the commitment to the game through the clubgolf programme.
"I certainly know from talking to Joe Steranka from the PGA of America that he thinks Scotland is the role model at that level. He actually thinks we have a model that the rest of the world should look at. The Americans don't have any engagement with schools like we have here.
"Where we maybe get stuck a little bit is to do with the how the funding is coming into us. At the moment sportscotland provides funding through from the Scottish Government that goes to the Scottish Golf Union.
"Believe me, I'm not trying to be hyper-critical of the SGU because they've been put in that position. But, where I might be slightly critical is that they should engage more with the rest of us as partners because, when it comes to the transition to the pro game, I think a lot of our members have something to offer to that process due to their own experiences.
"They want to use our labour in terms of the coaching and are happy to do that but they don't engage with us enough in the setting up of strategies."
While some reckon it would be the answer, Jones does not believe that Scotland should fall in line with most of the countries on the continent by forming a federation that would encompass the professional and amateur games.
"I don't agree with the federation concept," he added. "It sounds wonderful and would be okay if you were starting the game all over again 500 years ago with the one body. I think the way we have it just now is not bad as we each have areas of speciality and expertise that are strictly for ourselves.
"I think where England are doing it better than Scotland is in the partnership process. We are strongly involved in the English Golf Partnership and we provide what is needed for that much more than we are in Scotland.
"Scotland is still very dominated by the SGU and its various committees. I don't see too much of what I would call our professional representation there. I'm not sure that Monty or Paul Lawrie would sit on a committee but shouldn't we engage with them occasionally and say if (we are) not getting (pros in the) top 50 or even top 100 in the world, why is that?
"After all, these guys have been there. Let's talk to them and ask them."
Jones, who was in Scotland for the PGA Cup at The Carrick on Loch Lomond last week and has stayed on to attend the PGA Scottish Region's committee meeting today, revealed he's raised the matter with sportscotland and feels it is now time to get around the table with the SGU.
"We are trying like hell not to sound as though we are moaning but I do feel we have lots more to offer than we are being given the opportunity at the moment. I think we have been reluctant rather than slow on this one so far," he commented.
"That reluctance is due to the fact that, for the first time, we have the Government really engaging with us as a sport. The reason we need to go quicker now is that there is going to be Olympic funding coming through as well. The problem with money coming into anything is that if it gets into the wrong hands, then it is wasted money and that is our fear at the moment.
"My view is I don't think it is the SGU's right at this time just to accept it. But they have. Because it has Scottish in front of it, the SGU have decided it is their responsibility but I have never agreed with that and never will.
"I had some fairly good meetings with the sportscotland people during the recent Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and said that, if you continue to just fund the SGU in a way that, because they believe they've got the purse strings and they can do what they like, then you are going to hold the game back in Scotland and they've gone off to think about that."

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