MORE RESPONSES TO MARTIN DEMPSTER ARTICLE

E-mail from Graeme Leslie of Golf Data Lab

AmtoPro proposal would plug the financial gap

Hi Colin,
An interesting debate has been prompted by Martin Dempster's article (published in The Scotsman newspaper and also in http://www.scottishgolfview.com/ ... scroll down a day to read it)
Over a year ago, I attended a Cross Party Group on Golf meeting at Holyrood as a member of the public with an interest in the subject of golf. Whilst it is impressive enough that any individual in Scotland has access to the central government decision-making process, one of the items on the agenda was the formation of a proposal known as AmtoPro whereby it has already been identified that there is a funding shortfall the day our top amateurs turn professional.
From what I can gather, the SGU has long identified that there is limited (no) funding support for our amateurs once they turn professional.
I understand that many of the coaching and other services that the SGU provide to our amateurs are still provided to our rookie pros but unless there is any funding structure in place, we can not realistically expect Scotland to magic the money out of thin air.
The good news is that the AmtoPro proposal has been formulated and submitted and not having specific knowledge of the length of time required for the cogs and machinery of the Scottish government to turn, can not anticipate the timing of its approval or otherwise.
The government are being proactive in this regard and Tom McCabe MSP has given up many hours of his own time to chair these Cross Party Golf meetings. The problem has been identified. Hopefully the approval for this funding gap will be forthcoming imminently. That will depend on the will of our decision makers of course but many interested and qualified parties have been lobbying hard for this.
As regards the current generation, I agree with Kenny Hutton that Kevin McAlpine is an excellent golfer. Wallace Booth and Gavin Dear are also tremendous prospects for future success in the pro ranks, Gavin having won the Alps Tour final qualifying this morning. Chris Kelly is over 30 now but tee to green has stats and a game that the vast majority of the pros in Dubai tomorrow would pay millions for. He knows that the average age of the top 30 and ties a couple of years ago was nearer 32 than 31 and like Keir and Paul O'Hara - two rookie pros - will be hoping to get to final Tour school next week.
Craig Lee went through all three stages that year for the first time in his career and he had already tripped 30 years of age. Perhaps we expect too much too soon? This game can be a marathon, not a sprint.
Not every golfer has the strength of mind and strength of game that Richie Ramsay has, nor are the Rory McIlroys of this world every year phenomenons.
We have 23 golfers teeing it up at Q school Stage 2 this weekend It is certain that a good proportion of these will make to it to Final Q. There are some very talented Scots out there. It is my bet that the support for the Amateur to Pro transition is coming.
Regards,
Graeme Leslie
Golf Data Lab

Response from Colin Brooks
PGA Professional at Braid Hills Golf Centre, Edinburgh

Support should be available to all, not just the leading amateurs

Hi Colin,
I would like to respond to the very interesting debate going on at the moment, sparked by Martin Dempsters' article on the demise of our promising golfers over the last 20 odd years.
Martin is obviously very passionate about the situation we now find ourseves in, so I thought, as I was one of the names he talked about in his article, the least I could do was write in with my own thoughts.
As a former player and now coach to some of our top amateurs and professionals, I would like to say that the first three responses you posted on the site were in my opinion very good. I know both Kenny Hutton and Andrew Crerar personally and I thought they were spot on with some of their comments.
There is a very big jump between top-level amateur golf and playing on the European Tour and unless some of our players start getting some help (both financially and in other ways), then I fear that many of their careers may not even get off the ground.
The players with tour potential need to be identified and supported for a period of time. I also think it is worth pointing out that not all stars come through international amateur golf. Paul Lawrie had no amateur career to speak off but has gone on to have a great career.
My point is that the support should be available to all, not just top amateurs.
From a coaching stand point I think we need to be much more active in teaching the mental side of the game. We must understand that technical coaching on its own while neglecting the mental game is destined to fail.
One of the big challenges I have as a coach is to become more comfortable teaching this to my players. On the other side, sport psychologists and mind coaches must realise that without good technique the players with whom they work won't cut it on the tour today.
The Swedes have known this for many years. Annika Sorenstam says that she was taught mental techniques from a young age in the Swedish system. Tiger Woods worked with a mind coach at the age of 13.
The list of talented Scottish players who never made it on the tour is a very long one. All we can really do is coach them to the highest levels and support them through the early stages when they really need the help.
Many still won't make it but the list should be a little shorter in 20 years' time if we can do it right.
Best Wishes
Colin Brooks
PGA Professional
Braid Hills Golf Centre
Edinburgh