COLIN GILLIES TO PLAY LESS AS CAREER ENTERS NEW PHASE

       COLIN GILLIES in action. Image by courtesy of Andy Forman.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Earlier this month - in the Douglas Park pro-am to be precise - Colin Gillies became the first man to reach Tartan Tour career earnings of £500,000.
Colin has long been the holder of the record and he keeps raising the bar just that bit higher for the next generation and maybe the one after that to try to reach it.
But the 1983 Scottish boys champion, who will be 45 on August 1, is not thinking of adding considerably more to his record figure, as he explains:
"I moved back to Kingsfield in March and am involved in a great set-up there - excellent facilities for tuition - and I'm starting a new venture involving golf/ executive travel," said Gillies who has scored 125 victories on the Tartan Tour since he turned pro in 1984.
"I plan to slow down on the playing side and pursue the opportunities I have with Kingsfieldgolf.com
"I will honour my playing commitments this season but plan to greatly reduce my schedule. Old Injuries are now beginning to catch up with me, a situation which has encouraged me to look at different areas of the golf industry to further my career.
"I have excellent opportunities at Kingsfieldgolf.com which has first-class facilities for coaching, including a nine-hole course, short game, putting greens, Gasp Lab and Trackman Launch Monitor.
"We are currently also setting up a golf travel side to the facility for which i have recently purchased a new vehicle."
Colin won the Scottish PGA Order of Merit title in 2001, having been Scottish professional champion in 1995 and 1998.