ANDREW COLTART JOINS SGU PERFORMANCE COMMITTEE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
The Scottish Golf Union is delighted to announce the appointment of former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart onto its Performance Committee to support the development of the country’s leading amateur players.
Coltart joins new Non-Executive Performance Director Stephen Docherty, who joined the SGU’s Board of Directors in January with the responsibility to improve the structure of the performance programmes within the top echelon of the Men’s playing squads.
The 41-year-old, one of Scotland’s most-respected golfers who recently retired from the European Tour circuit, will seek to pass on his knowledge and experience for the benefit of the Men’s and Boys’ squads in a mentoring capacity.
Coltart enjoyed an impressive amateur career, winning the 1987 Scottish Boys Amateur Championship and the 1991 Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship, before embarking on a pro career that delivered, among other achievements, two European Tour titles, Alfred Dunhill Cup glory for Scotland (1995) and a Ryder Cup appearance (1999).
Coltart’s input reflects Scottish Golf’s continuing engagement with the nation’s top professionals to aid the overall development of the game, with Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher – through their respective junior foundations – also determined to help youngsters enjoy and progress in golf.
Docherty replaced former Director John Fraser on the Board, having served on the Performance Committee for the past year, adding his significant golf and business credentials. He was capped at both Boys and Youths level, as well as being a member of the Great Britain AND Ireland Boys team in 1987.
Stephen has taken the opportunity of his appointment to change the make-up of the Committee with Coltart, Iain Simpson, a former County player with a strong educational background, and Kevin Craggs, coach to Catriona Matthew and Kylie Walker, becoming members.
They will work with Scottish Golf staff Steve Paulding and Kevin Cademy-Taylor and SGU National Coaching staff Ian Rae and Neil Marr.
Paulding, Scottish Golf Performance Manager, said: “We are delighted to be bringing two people with the calibre of Andrew and Stephen onto the Performance Committee, providing invaluable knowledge and experience, as well as a strong network of contacts to this area.
“Andrew’s professional Tour background provides a different perspective on our discussions which we’ve not had previously, while he is also someone who made the successful move from a top level amateur to a professional capable of winning tournaments.
“In Stephen’s case, he has been hugely influential at Committee level already and has brought in some great ideas, aligned closely to my own thinking. I’m sure he will continue to build on the foundations built by John Fraser and keep progressing the structures we are developing.”
Coltart added: “I’m very excited to be working with the Scottish Golf Union and helping our best amateur players develop. Scotland has an excellent track record in major international amateur events and hopefully my input will see that continue and improve.
“We all want to see young Scots golfers progressing through the ranks from our clubs, Areas and at national level. It’s in all of our interest to keep achieving results and pushing these players onto the next stage. I’ve picked up a lot of knowledge from years on Tour and I’m keen to pass that on.”