Grant85
Head Pro
For most of us, the name Sam Locke will have become more prominent this week as he became the only Scot and the only Amateur to make the cut at the Open.
Scottish golf has very much been in the doldrums for many years with no real world contenders since Colin Montgomerie - sure there have been a few guys to play on tour and make a career from golf, but very few have been a fixture in the top 50. Stark contrast to English and Irish golf who have had a lot of top players, major winners and world stars.
Russell Knox and Martin Laird have had their days - however both came through the American college system. Not that that is a problem, but in reality they have prospered because they left Scotland. Stephen Gallagher and Richie Ramsay probably the next two most prominent who have been on tour for the past decade, and were homegrown.
In reality the lack of success in the pro ranks is a total embarrassment for Scottish Golf. This must be, or should be, one of the best funded sports in the world with £millions flowing into the game every year through 2 permanent European Tour events, the Open every other year, millions of tourists as well as thousands of golf clubs around the country.
the Paul Lawrie foundation may be the chink of light. Paul has set up this with his own cash and a lot of his own time to try and teach some North East lads how to make it on tour.
Sam Locke seems to be one of the 1st to come through.
Unlike many amateurs in the Open, he qualified via proper qualifying (i.e. competing against Pros rather than winning an amateur title)
He also made the cut on merit (i.e. not simply because he got a favourable draw and the weather took 50 guys out of play)
He's now playing pretty well - making 6 birdies and shooting under par in the 3rd round and sitting t56.
All this is very positive and bodes well for young Sam - but without pinning our hopes on this chap, I'm more excited about Paul's foundation and his way of thinking.
Paul is a pro who treated golf as a job. He was a solid player who took advantage of one man's fate 19 years ago to seal his own piece of history. But after that he still had a solid career winning a further 6 pro events and qualifying for 2 Ryder Cups (1999 and 2012).
He is someone who kept his feet on the ground and remembered that golf doesn't owe you a living, you have to go out there and earn in. Arguably, he is one of the best guys for this role of mentoring young players on how to make it as a pro.
We've heard the stories in commentary about Sam making the Latte's at Paul's golf club. It may be a small point, but this is something that keeps a youngsters feet on the ground. And no doubt on Monday, Sam will be back doing this and then practicing after his shift. Paul will be reminding him that you could become a decent pro, but you are 1 bad season away from selling mars bars and giving unathletic guys lessons on how to stop slicing their drive 40 yards.
I'm not really sure about set ups in other areas of Scotland, how they are funded, who the coaches are and what happens - but I guess unless you have a parent generous and well off enough to pay for a lot of coaching, the chances of making it as a tour pro are very very slim.
Surely golf in Scotland deserves a much more joined up approach with a portion of the money flowing into Scottish golf being used to develop talent. If this is the case currently, it is not being used very well.
Golf in Scotland is popular, but just imagine the atmosphere at Carnoustie if Scotland had a Rory McIlroy or Tommy Fleetwood to follow around.
No disrespect to Russell Knox - he's having a great career but he's only one guy.
Scotland really needs to work out how to develop more top players.
Scottish golf has very much been in the doldrums for many years with no real world contenders since Colin Montgomerie - sure there have been a few guys to play on tour and make a career from golf, but very few have been a fixture in the top 50. Stark contrast to English and Irish golf who have had a lot of top players, major winners and world stars.
Russell Knox and Martin Laird have had their days - however both came through the American college system. Not that that is a problem, but in reality they have prospered because they left Scotland. Stephen Gallagher and Richie Ramsay probably the next two most prominent who have been on tour for the past decade, and were homegrown.
In reality the lack of success in the pro ranks is a total embarrassment for Scottish Golf. This must be, or should be, one of the best funded sports in the world with £millions flowing into the game every year through 2 permanent European Tour events, the Open every other year, millions of tourists as well as thousands of golf clubs around the country.
the Paul Lawrie foundation may be the chink of light. Paul has set up this with his own cash and a lot of his own time to try and teach some North East lads how to make it on tour.
Sam Locke seems to be one of the 1st to come through.
Unlike many amateurs in the Open, he qualified via proper qualifying (i.e. competing against Pros rather than winning an amateur title)
He also made the cut on merit (i.e. not simply because he got a favourable draw and the weather took 50 guys out of play)
He's now playing pretty well - making 6 birdies and shooting under par in the 3rd round and sitting t56.
All this is very positive and bodes well for young Sam - but without pinning our hopes on this chap, I'm more excited about Paul's foundation and his way of thinking.
Paul is a pro who treated golf as a job. He was a solid player who took advantage of one man's fate 19 years ago to seal his own piece of history. But after that he still had a solid career winning a further 6 pro events and qualifying for 2 Ryder Cups (1999 and 2012).
He is someone who kept his feet on the ground and remembered that golf doesn't owe you a living, you have to go out there and earn in. Arguably, he is one of the best guys for this role of mentoring young players on how to make it as a pro.
We've heard the stories in commentary about Sam making the Latte's at Paul's golf club. It may be a small point, but this is something that keeps a youngsters feet on the ground. And no doubt on Monday, Sam will be back doing this and then practicing after his shift. Paul will be reminding him that you could become a decent pro, but you are 1 bad season away from selling mars bars and giving unathletic guys lessons on how to stop slicing their drive 40 yards.
I'm not really sure about set ups in other areas of Scotland, how they are funded, who the coaches are and what happens - but I guess unless you have a parent generous and well off enough to pay for a lot of coaching, the chances of making it as a tour pro are very very slim.
Surely golf in Scotland deserves a much more joined up approach with a portion of the money flowing into Scottish golf being used to develop talent. If this is the case currently, it is not being used very well.
Golf in Scotland is popular, but just imagine the atmosphere at Carnoustie if Scotland had a Rory McIlroy or Tommy Fleetwood to follow around.
No disrespect to Russell Knox - he's having a great career but he's only one guy.
Scotland really needs to work out how to develop more top players.