GAVIN DEAR HAS REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Perthshire's former Walker Cup and Eisenhower Trophy hero Gavin Dear is obviously disappointed he did not make it through to the European Tour Final Qualifying School but he has returned home from his Stage 2 failure with plenty of reasons to be cheerful.
"I have a category for the Challenge Tour, which should give me a good number of starts. I also have an exemption into every Allianz Challenge Tour event through my 20th place finish on this year's Allianz Golf Tour Order of Merit," said the Scone man.
"I would then hope to receive some invitations to events that I don't automatically get into, hopefully getting as close to a full season as possible.
"At the moment, I'm kind of snowed in, so having an enforced break from golf, which is not a bad thing after a long season. I am hoping to be able to play in the Challenge Tour event in India in January and thus will try and prepare as well as I can."
Dear has many contacts in Florida through his four years at Lynn University, Boca Raton and Morocco is also a warm-weather practice venue option.
"I will go away during the rest if the winter and gain as much practice as possible. The Challenge Tour has one event in January, February, March and April, so I need to wait until the schedule is fully released and then plan around those events.
"As for 2010, I was very happy with my year, obviously struggling at Q School was disappointing, but getting my Challenge Tour category from the Alps Tour was my main goal. I feel I have improved as a player, become more consistent and more patient.
"I need to thank my sponsors, Murrayshall Hotel and Golf Club and Tetra, who have given me invaluable support during my first year as a professional.
"I am looking forward to a succesful year in 2011, and hope many others Scots do as well."

THE ROAD TO MOROCCO
Scottishgolfview.com editor Colin Farquharson has strong links with Morocco - Marrakech in particular where there are half-a-dozen courses with practice facilities, all within easy reach of the city - through Mohamed Fakir of Menara Travel.
If any rookie pro - or any professional or amateur- for that matter wants to practice during the winter at a warm/hot-weather venue, then Morocco is certainly worth considering. E-mail Colin@scottishgolfview.com and I will pass on your details to Mohamed Fakir.
PS The 2nd Morocco Golf Festival will be held over five courses at Marrakech from October 8 to 15, 2011. Colin Farquharson will again be Tournament Director.