CONTINUING THE ALLYN DICK STORY

PRIDE IN PLAYING FOR SCOTLAND. That's Allyn Dick standing at the back, fourth from the left after SGU national coach Ian Rae, James Byrne and Peter Latimer. Picture by courtesy of Tom Ward Photography.

By ALLYN DICK
I really only started to take golf seriously in 2001 when Gillian (my wife now) said "Why don't you practise!"
I played off a handicap of 4 at the time and as things turned out was made redundant from my job. Lo and behold I got a job at Dalmahoy from Aug 2001 to April 2002 which allowed me to practise every day.
So, come the start of the season, it took me only six weeks to get down to scratch, and from then on I started to played more away from my home club of Shotts.

It took me until 2005, following my West of Scotland open stroke-play win at Cawder, to finally get to +1. From then one I have just chipped away at trying to become a better golfer.
My number one goal growing up was to win the club championship at Shotts, until I realised I could compete on a higher level. It's every amateur's dream to one day play for their country and I have been fortunate to realise that dream this year, something I thought would pass me by, if I'm honest. This is an honour I'm so proud of.
For me it's a case of the 'Real Amateur' (works full time, has a mortgage, has a wife and kids) mixing it with the 'Professional Amateurs' who know nothing else than playing golf 24/7.
I have been helped along the way by former Walker Cup player Graeme Rankin, Wilson Bryson, Craig Watson and Scott Knowles who have all passed on some sort of advice and encouragement over the years.
Thanks also to Robert Arkley at Kingsfield Driving Range. I'm grateful for the help he has given to me this season and before.

TALKING POINTS
INDOOR PRACTICE FACILITIES: Something which I consider worth raising on Scottishgolfview.com is the lack of indoor practice facilities (short game area, putting greens, etc) considering the climate change we are experiencing.
I have an artificial pitching/putting green in my garden which I had installed early 2009 (which has obviously paid off) by Europeangolf.co.uk, but it's not something you can use when it's covered in snow!

PGA TRAINING FOR AMATEURS: I would like to see the SGU merging with the Scottish PGA with elite amateurs being allowed to undertake the PGA training while in the SGU squad. That way, if they fail to make the grade as a tour pro, they would have something to fall back on, either teaching the game or playing on the Tartan Tour.

Any comments or questions for Allyn?
E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com

E-mail from ROBERT CARSON


First of all I would like to congratulate Allyn on his very successful season and the birth of his son Jacob.
Over the two years I have known Allyn, I have played with him on four or five  occasions and had the pleasure of marking his card for the final 36 holes on his way to winning the Newlands Trophy this past summer.
The final round was one of the best rounds of golf I have witnessed at any level. I don't have a question for Allyn, just wanted to wish him luck for 2011 and here's hoping another Home Internationals cap comes his way.
All the best,
 Robert Carson

E-mail from Stuart Campbell
Great articles re Allyn Dick – nice to learn of his journey. We are very fortunate to have an indoor coaching suite here at Swanston which has just opened pre Christmas. It consists of a Hitting station with a 3 metre squared net, a putting green and a small gym for golfers to use!

Stuart J. Campbell
PGA Professional
Director of Instruction
Swanston Golf Academy
Swanston Golf Ltd
111 Swanston Road
EDINBURGH EH10 7DS
0131 445 2239
07875 534349
http://www.swanston.co.uk/