MONTY PRAISES SGU WARM-WEATHER TRAINING PROGRAMME

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
Colin Montgomerie, Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup captain, has given his backing to the warm weather training trip Scotland’s leading male amateurs will make when they depart for Abu Dhabi later this week.
Following the success of the 2010 winter camp, a new-look squad of 10 players will fly to the Middle East on Friday (18 November, 2011) to be based at the stunning Yas Links Golf Club in Abu Dhabi and the Centro Yas Island Hotel, who together with long-standing supporter of the SGU, Aberdeen Asset Management, are sponsoring the four-week training programme.
The group, which includes four members of the Scotland boys' squad who will travel for 10 days only, will work on fitness and technical aspects of their game for an extended period at the world-class facilities, as well as benefiting from the fantastic weather.
Key members of the SGU coaching team – National Coach Ian Rae, Under-18s coach Neil Marr and Performance Manager Steve Paulding – will support the players, with input from expert staff at the sportscotland Institute of Sport.
Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister, has already given his support to the trip as he seeks to forge ever-strengthening links between Scotland and the UAE in a golfing context, and Monty has also voiced his approval.
Speaking recently to Scotland’s amateur squad, the eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner says the chance for the players to improve their games and fitness in sunny climes during the winter months is one they should make the most of.
Indeed, he admits it’s an opportunity he would have loved at this time of year – rather than having to turn the heating up in his garage!
The 48-year-old, who enjoyed a prolific amateur career and played on Eisenhower Trophy, Home Internationals and Walker Cup teams, said: “It’s fantastic, this winter training programme.
“I never had it. You should grab the opportunity with both hands. Warm weather training? In my day, it meant turning the heater up in the garage.
“To learn to live out of a suitcase, be in an environment away from home, experience the boredom that can entail at times, can only be good.”
Montgomerie, who led Europe to a nail-biting success over the USA at Celtic Manor in 2010, added: “There is no substitute for hard work, particularly at this time of year. If you’re not putting in the work, you can bet countless other guys across the globe are.
“Jack Nicklaus, the greatest ever, never, ever gave up. He was always working on his game, he was 100 per cent on every shot.
“It’s also become a fitness game. The fitter the better, we should say. Tiger (Woods) took it to new levels. Golf is a classic case. Players are fitter now, so the warm weather training will also help in that regard.”