Williamson to lead by example

• Duncan Williamson to make rare competitive appearance in Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship qualifier at Blairgowrie
• Kirkhill man has devoted his career to junior golf, helping hundreds find a route into the game during 19-year spell at Glasgow course
• New par-three layout set to be added to the 57 year old's coaching offering when it is complete later this year

A Glasgow PGA Professional with a prolific track-record for nurturing young golfers will swap his Dennis the Menace rules book for his driver and a tilt at The PGA’s flagship tournament.

Kirkhill pro Duncan Williamson has encouraged hundreds of kids to try their hand at the sport since he joined the club 19 years ago.

Among those are several players who have gone on to turn pro themselves and others who have gone on to experience success at elite amateur level, such as Europro Tour winner Craig Ross.

But Williamson, 57, will allow himself one day off from his junior commitments to pursue his own slice of competitive golf in the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship regional qualifier at Blairgowrie on April 28.

The championship has a total prize fund of £91,500 and the winner at the final, which takes place on June 2-5 at Burnham and Berrow in Somerset, will secure the use of a Peugeot car for 12 months.

There are also six coveted spots for the PGA Cup up for grabs. The biennial club pros’ version of the Ryder Cup will see a team from Great Britain and Ireland take on the United States at CordeValle, California, in September.

“It will be really nice to spend a day focusing on the playing side of the game,” explained Williamson.

“To be honest I don’t get too much chance to do so nowadays as I am spending so much time at the club.

“But I love everything about working here. We’ve developed a good junior section at Kirkhill and it’s so rewarding to see players come through, enjoy the game and sometimes even turn pro themselves.

“I’ve got people who I met at 10 years old or even younger who are now out there playing professionally – it gives you such a great buzz to know that you have been there and helped them from the start.”

The club’s successful academy section is continuing to grow, with work already afoot on a new six-hole par-three course to give players of the future somewhere to practise.

“We get kids coming to us anywhere from four upwards – so the first thing you do is try to capture their imagination. We’ve got things like a little Dennis the Menace rules book that we show them to get them engaged.

“The little par-three course we’re developing will give them somewhere really nice to go, have a bit of a practice and develop their skills.

“This club has a proud tradition of bringing young players through and we want to build on that to make sure our offering is as good as it can be.”

Matthew Johnson, Titleist brand director, said: “We are really excited to be sponsoring a tournament that sits at the pinnacle of The PGA schedule, providing PGA Professionals with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills at the highest level.

“This year marks the first in a new four year partnership between Titleist and The PGA. It is a relationship we are proud to expand in order to help serious golfers of all abilities, from competitive club-based professionals to club golfers, shoot their best scores.

“We look forward to meeting competitors at the regional qualifiers and the final at the magnificent Burnham and Berrow in June and wish everyone taking part the very best of luck.”

Other players competing in the Blairgowrie regional qualifier include: Gavin Abson (Carrick on Loch Lomond), Alastair Forrow (Whitecraigs), Paul Jamieson (Dunblane New), Sam McLaren (Blairgowrie) and Ian Taylor (Drumpellier).