SCOTLAND'S TRANSITION BOARD AT LAST STUTTERING TO LIFE
FROM THE HERALDSCOTLAND.WEBSITE
By DOUGLAS LOWE
It was heartening to see the European Tour rookie Scott Jamieson making the cut in his first event, the co-sanctioned Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, and putting a little money away under his belt in the process.
His 30th place finish, worth €8100, is a long way short of the “flying start” that was predicted with unrealistic optimism in some quarters but, with such luminaries as Alastair Forsyth, Marc Warren and Andrew Coltart – all of them European Tour winners – lost to full schedules for the 2011 season, small achievements like Jamieson’s which provide a sense of hope are welcome.
The transition board in Scotland – who have shown a distinct lack of interest this year in actually attending events like the Scottish Hydro Challenge in the heart of the transition zone to learn at first hand what actually goes on at these events – are scheduled to meet later this week to discuss disbursing the £1m in public money they have at their disposal, and the 27-year-old Cathkin Braes player must be near the top of their list.
So must George Murray, the former Scottish amateur champion who is another, like Jamieson, to have made the step up from the Challenge Tour. And of course there are the Saltman brothers, Lloyd and Elliot, who graduated at qualifying school.
There are fears that the transition board, who have yet to publish detailed criteria for potential recipients of funds under their control, will operate what is viewed by some as little more than an extension of the Scottish Golf Union academies.
Small achievements like Jamieson’s which provide a sense of hope are welcome. But with members of the PGA – the Scottish chairman Alan White and former European Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher – now on the board, those from the amateur golfing world and their extended networks may not have it all their own way.
There have been mutterings of mentoring, which was a key proposal more than a year ago in Gordon Simmonds’ challenging “No Limits” report under the aegis of the Winning Scoland Foundation.
If that remains the case then, without wishing to prejudice an early return to the fray for Forsyth, Warren and Coltart, they may be willing to have some input.
What looks to be certain is that this body is stuttering into life not a moment too soon, at least on the men’s tours, and no effort should be spared to introduce any measure that can speed things up.
It has been estimated that there is a 50% turnover in European Tour players every five years. Seeing that happen with the Scottish vanguard in a single season is a worry. It would take much persuasion from the complacent glass-half-full brigade to dispel the feeling that all is not well in the Scottish professional game.
TO READ MORE GOLF ON THE HERALDSCOTLAND WEBSITE
CLICK HERE
By DOUGLAS LOWE
It was heartening to see the European Tour rookie Scott Jamieson making the cut in his first event, the co-sanctioned Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, and putting a little money away under his belt in the process.
His 30th place finish, worth €8100, is a long way short of the “flying start” that was predicted with unrealistic optimism in some quarters but, with such luminaries as Alastair Forsyth, Marc Warren and Andrew Coltart – all of them European Tour winners – lost to full schedules for the 2011 season, small achievements like Jamieson’s which provide a sense of hope are welcome.
The transition board in Scotland – who have shown a distinct lack of interest this year in actually attending events like the Scottish Hydro Challenge in the heart of the transition zone to learn at first hand what actually goes on at these events – are scheduled to meet later this week to discuss disbursing the £1m in public money they have at their disposal, and the 27-year-old Cathkin Braes player must be near the top of their list.
So must George Murray, the former Scottish amateur champion who is another, like Jamieson, to have made the step up from the Challenge Tour. And of course there are the Saltman brothers, Lloyd and Elliot, who graduated at qualifying school.
There are fears that the transition board, who have yet to publish detailed criteria for potential recipients of funds under their control, will operate what is viewed by some as little more than an extension of the Scottish Golf Union academies.
Small achievements like Jamieson’s which provide a sense of hope are welcome. But with members of the PGA – the Scottish chairman Alan White and former European Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher – now on the board, those from the amateur golfing world and their extended networks may not have it all their own way.
There have been mutterings of mentoring, which was a key proposal more than a year ago in Gordon Simmonds’ challenging “No Limits” report under the aegis of the Winning Scoland Foundation.
If that remains the case then, without wishing to prejudice an early return to the fray for Forsyth, Warren and Coltart, they may be willing to have some input.
What looks to be certain is that this body is stuttering into life not a moment too soon, at least on the men’s tours, and no effort should be spared to introduce any measure that can speed things up.
It has been estimated that there is a 50% turnover in European Tour players every five years. Seeing that happen with the Scottish vanguard in a single season is a worry. It would take much persuasion from the complacent glass-half-full brigade to dispel the feeling that all is not well in the Scottish professional game.
TO READ MORE GOLF ON THE HERALDSCOTLAND WEBSITE
CLICK HERE
Labels: PRO GOLF
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Wednesday, December 15, 2010
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