CRAIG DEMPSTER GETS PAUL LAWRIE GOLF CENTRE POST

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.comCraig Dempster has been appointed head professional at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre on the south side of the River Dee at Ardoe, Banchory Devenick. The 34-year-old, Aberdeen-born, Banchory-based pro was on the staff at the Inchmarlo Golf Centre which recently went into liquidation while Dempster was working his notice. He had been at Inchmarlo since 2003 after completing a degree in Sports Coaching and Development at Abertay University. Dempster completed his PGA training under the then Inchmarlo head pro Patrick Lovie and became PGA qualified in 2009."I am delighted to have joined the team at The Paul Lawrie Golf Centre and look forward to the exciting challenges ahead. Improvements are already underway. The work on the short game area is looking fantastic and we look forward to it being ready to use in early June.  "Internal construction work has now begun to increase the size of the shop at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, and the addition of a conference room will allow us to provide a great facility for our corporate clients. "The addition of a bespoke custom-fit studio will also allow us to provide an excellent custom fit service to the North-east golfing community. "I am obviously very sad about Inchmarlo Golf Centre being placed in provisional liquidation, resulting in my former colleagues and friends being made redundant. I was in a very fortunate position, having earlier accepted the position of Head Professional at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre." Robbie Stewart, formerly at Cruden Bay Golf Club, is the Director of at the centre which has a "stable" of attached tour professionals, such as David Law, Malcolm Isaacs, Laura Murray, Kris Nicol, Philip McLean and Jordan Findlay. The Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Scottish Ladies Open Tour, a 14-event mini-tour open to lady professionals and amateurs with single-figure handicaps, tees off at two Edinburgh courses, Marriott Dalmahoy and Ratho Park, on April 18 and 19. The tour is supported by Paul Lawrie, Aberdeen hotelier Stewart Spence and Martin Gilbert, the Aberdeen Asset Manager chief executive, who are investing heavily in making the Golf Centre, which has a par-3 nine-hole course and a driving range, as well as state-of-the art practice facilities, one of the market leaders in this niche. "These are exciting times," said Robbie Stewart.