Golf: Jacky Montgomery pleased Sandy Jones is looking at Tartan Tour

Published on Tuesday 12 January 2010 09:32

DUNBAR professional Jacky Montgomery has welcomed the input of PGA chief executive Sandy Jones after the Scottish Region rubber-stamped two exciting developments.

Jones, the former Tartan Tour chief, who is now based at The Belfry, has appointed Michael McDougall as the new Scottish Region secretary in succession to Gordon Dewar.

He has also brokered a deal with Gleneagles Hotel that will see this year's Scottish Championship played over the King's Course in October.

"We are delighted to have an input from Sandy," said Montgomery, the current captain of the Scottish Region. "He always has Scotland in his heart and he wants to see the Region thriving.

"I think he is taking more of an interest in the Scottish Region as we move to 2014."

On McDougall's appointment, he added: "Michael is a young man with a lot of ambition and I'm sure Sandy wants to give him a bit of guidance to ensure that we keep moving forward.

"Michael is a very good communicator and a good front man for the Region, so we are delighted to have him on board.

"We see him as being very visible and I am sure he will be good for the Region."

Held at Gleneagles since 1999, the Scottish Championship was played once on the Queen's Course, where Alastair Forsyth lifted the title, but has been staged mainly on the PGA Centenary Course until now.

The move to an October slot means the field will be restricted to 66 players - 90 less than the line up when East Renfrewshire's David Orr lifted the title last June.

"We are delighted to have the Scottish Championship on the King's Course," said Montgomery. "It continues the relationship with Gleneagles through to 2014 and hopefully it can grow and grow.

"Potentially, we might be able to get a stronger field at that time of the year."

The event tops an order of merit schedule that is still taking shape, with a positive announcement about the Northern Open expected in the next few weeks.

"People often refer to how healthy the Tartan Tour was back in 1991 but a lot of other Tours have come into existence since then, the likes of the Challenge Tour, the EuroPro Tour and even the Seniors Tour," noted Montgomery.

"These are all taking a bite off the sponsorship money out there but we have a product, if you want to call it that, which is attractive to a lot of companies.

"We have to find the right way to put that together while, at the same time, creating an opportunity for young guys as well.

"They want to become PGA pros, learn to teach and run retail business but we still need to give them the opportunity if they have the ability."

One member of the Scottish Region about to embark on a new career is Fraser Mann, who is leaving his post at Musselburgh at the end of March to play on the Seniors Tour.

"We are delighted for Fraser," said Montgomery. "He is the Tartan Tour through and through. That's where he's played his golf and very successfully, too. We are thrilled for him. He's good enough and could make a big impact."

Main 2010 Tartan Tour dates: April 6-7 Callaway 36-Hole, Monifieth; May 5-6 Scottish Wateraid 36-hole, Barassie; July 20-21 Callaway 36-Hole, Craigielaw; August 3-4 Deer Park Masters; August 9-10 Ayrshire Hospice 36-Hole, West Kilbride; Sept 4-5 Kerr Investments 36-Hole, Dumfries & Galloway; Sept 20-21 Callaway 36-Hole, TBA; Oct 14-17 Gleneagles Scottish Championship, King's Course