Scots warm up for new season... - 26th Jan 2004

Scotland’s top amateur golfers are flying off to Portugal this week (1 - 6 Feb) for a warm weather training session ahead of the start of the new season.

The group will spend a week at the Quinta da Ria Golf Resort in the Eastern Algarve, Portugal which is the venue for this year’s Portuguese Amateur Championship (10 – 14 March).

On the Player Development Camp, the players will follow an intensive programme of coaching and playing, giving them the opportunity to practice together away from home. It is a continuation of the Scottish Golf Union’s plans to ensure Scottish elite players are given the most advanced and thorough preparatory schedules available.

Accompanied by National Coach Ian Rae and Institute High Performance Coach Steve McNally, the squad will receive coaching focusing on all aspects of their game in conditions conducive to good golf. During the week, a set programme of events will be followed including warm up preparation, long and short game practice and gym sessions.

This trip is the first in a series of warm weather development camps in Portugal. Players from the boys, youths and men’s coaching squads will be given the opportunity to work on their game in warmer climates.

“At this time of year the weather in Scotland can be so variable that it is sometimes difficult to practice everything we want to,” explained National Coach Ian Rae.

“While we work on many aspects of the game, most of the players are keen to get back out on the golf course and to play. With the temperature around 20oC in Spain at this time of year we can do that and so much more.

“This is the first time we have taken members of the boys and youths squad abroad for warm weather training and I am sure it will provide them with an excellent opportunity to prepare and build their games before the season gets underway.”

Included in the squad for Portugal is Walker Cup star and 2003 Scottish Golfer of the Year Stuart Wilson (Forfar). Scottish Boys Stroke Play Champion Lloyd Saltman (Kilspindie) and the 20002 Scottish Amateur Champion Andrew McArthur (Windyhill) have also been selected for the trip. Frazer Bone (Cardross), Graeme Brown (Royal Montrose), George Murray (Earlsferry Thistle) and Robert Taylor (Downfield) make up the seven-man squad.

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