PAUL McKECHNIE TRIES NEW COACHING VENTURE THIS WINTER

                 Paul McKechnie - a new career move (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency)            

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
A great season for Paul McKechnie could get even better if he can progress to and graduate from the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain next month.
So what do you think is the 34-year-old Braid Hills Golf Centre tour pro’s next move?
If your unlikely answer is “Coaching,” then you’ve got it in one!
“I have had a great year. However, with Stage 2 of the Q School looming and first baby on the way in March, I need to try to generate some interest in my venture to fund both,” said Paul.
“That venture is a slight change to my usual routine in that I am going to be doing some coaching at Braid Hills Golf Centre for the first time this winter, hopefully passing on some of my 15+ years of experience to my pupils.
“This will be the first time I have ever done any coaching, even though I finished second in Scotland for my final PGA degree. So the emphasis switches from thinking about my own game to other people’s games and how to make them better players and increase their enjoyment of the game.”
Glasgow-born McKechnie was a Scottish schoolboys, youths and full Scotland amateur international before he turned pro in 2000. He is a three-time winner on the PGA EuroPro tour, including the the tour championship with a £20,000 first prize,
He has also played on the Challenge Tour and made multiple European Tour starts.
In the 2011 Tartan Tour season recently ended, he was fourth in the Order of Merit and third in the mone table. He played in all four rounds of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and finished fifth in the European Tour School Stage 1 event at Dundonald and is now looking forward to Stage 2 at the beginning of next month.
He also won three times on the 2011 Optical Express Tour – run by Alan Tait – and won its Order of Merit.
“Without boasting about it, I have the experience that only years of competing on various tours and at the highest levels can give you. I’ve been a winner on most of the tours and I am sure I can channel that into coaching, helping amateur golfers improve,”says Paul.
“My plan is to teach on Thursdays and Sundays at Braid Hills Golf Centre in Edinburgh throughout the winter months and to build up a good client base.
“However, my primary focus remains the same as always and that is to play and compete on the European Tour.”

• +Paul McKechnie’s contact number is: 0131 658 111. Appointments for lessons can also be made through his website: www.paulmckechnie.co.uk