Paulding to leave Scottish Golf for new role with British Athletics

NEWS RELEASE

Scottish Golf today announces the departure of Steve Paulding, Performance Director, who is to take up a new role with British Athletics.

The 54-year-old, pictured, has enjoyed a successful seven-year spell with the governing body and leaves to become British Athletics’ National Performance Institute Director.

Paulding has made significant changes in the way Scottish Golf supports and develops aspiring male and female golfers, with teams and individuals enjoying notable results on the world amateur stage during his tenure.

Paulding, who will leave his post on November 11, helped guide Scotland to back-to-back European Men's Amateur Team titles in 2015 and 2016 for the first time in 39 years.

A record eight male Scots also reached the top 100 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings last year, with Grant Forrest, Ewen Ferguson and Jack McDonald playing their part in the record-winning GB and I Walker Cup team in 2015. Paulding has also seen three Scots reach The Amateur Final in the last three years, with Bradley Neil victorious in 2014, and Connor Syme and Craig Ross win the Australia and South African Amateur titles this year.

Given Scotland also had two players in the GB and I Girls Junior Vagliano team in 2015 and won the Boys' Home Internationals last year, Paulding is confident for the future.

“I’ve enjoyed my time with Scottish Golf and we’ve achieved some great results that I’m very proud of,” said Paulding. “Most people are only interested in those results, but the systems and processes needed to consistently identify and produce players who can compete on the world amateur stage has been my focus.

“There are now more PGA professional coaches working in and supporting the performance system at all levels and there is now a far more robust tracking and monitoring system in place for players.

“There have also been significant changes to improve our winter training, using the UAE and South Africa as training and competition bases, while we have developed an excellent team of support service personnel within sportscotland's institute of sport to further develop the players.

“While there remain challenges ahead, I’m encouraged by the progress we have made in the female amateur ranks since we became an amalgamated body a year ago. I’m also confident that our new partnership with Bounce Sports will increase the potential for the current crop of male amateurs and newly-turned turned professionals to break through.”

National Coach Ian Rae, Performance Development Manager Stuart Clayton and the former Ladies European Tour professional Clare Queen, Programme Co-ordinator, will take responsibility for the Performance programme following Paulding’s departure next month.

Blane Dodds, Scottish Golf Chief Executive, said: “I would like to thank Steve for all his hard work leading the performance team over the past seven years.

“Scottish Golf is in a stronger place thanks to his endeavours and we wish him well in his new challenge with British Athletics.

“In the interim, Steve leaves a strong and experienced Performance team behind him and I’m confident Ian, Stuart and Clare will continue their good work before we make any future decisions.”