E-mail from Andrew Crerar, Panmure Golf Club professional

Young stars who don't shine as pros: Sweden

had the answer ... and that was 18 years ago!

Dear Colin
It was with much interest that I read Martin Dempster's piece (scroll down a few items if you want to read it first) on your website tonight.
His question was how many golfers has Scotland produced with genuine talent over the years only for them to fall way short of their true potential? He highlighted many examples and is spot on with his analysis and asks the question why.
Having personally competed at the Tour School final stage five times and been a professional for 22 years now I feel I am qualified enough to give an opinion, so here goes.
My belief, which is shared by many of my fellow pros, is that until our country's governing bodies sort out the transition stage between amateur and professional ranks then we will continue to under achieve.
Eighteen years ago I played a practice round at the Tour School Final Stage with Ove Sellberg of Sweden by pure chance. During the round I was aware of several people at different stages who were watching/speaking to him. After a while I asked him who they all were?
He told me that the Swedish players (13 at final qualifying) had with them two coaches, a doctor, a physio, a nutrionalist who also became chef at night!, a phychologist (before they became fashionable) and 13 caddies who were all part of their TEAM.
He explained to me also that all their amateurs upon turning pro continued to receive this support from the Swedish Federation for a further three years (including finance).
At the other end of the scale at that Tour School were 13 Scottish players who, without exception, were all there as individuals, trying to deal with everything that was on their plate. Now I'm not saying that it was not possible to succeed. Alongside me that year were the very talented trio of Brooks, Coltart and Lawrie (who certainly cannot be accused of not fulfilling his potential) but 18 years on I'm sure that there will not be an equal ratio of players at the Tour School Final Stage next week.
There are many reasons for Scotland's players underachieving their full potential over that time, finance, dedication, self-belief to name a few but I believe that if the players that Martin Dempster mentioned had been better prepared and provided for, then maybe some more would have had more success than they did.
One thing is for sure. Nobody will ever convince me that Sweden (for example) has had more talented players than Scotland in that period but they certainly have had much more success! I believe that a body of people including many of the 'failed' names mentioned should be set up to advise and help our future stars and I'm sure some of the success stories would also take part too (Monty, Lawrie, Robertson, Orr, Drummond) to name a few.
I could go on, but to finish I'll add a few more names to Martin's list of players who I believe may have achieved more in different circumstances: Colin Gillies, Jim White, Lee Vannet, Gary Collinson, Alan Tait, Euan McIntosh, Murray Urquhart, David Thomson, Calum Innes, Craig Lee, Scott Henderson and Chris Kelly.
Best Wishes and kind regards
Andrew Crerar