Golf: Alan to go full Hogg in new role

The former Lothians Boys champion – he claimed that title when he was a member at Baberton – has just been appointed as the chief executive at Kingsbarns in Fife.

He beat off strong competition for the post, which he is expected to take up in September, and is looking forward to building on the success the course has enjoyed over the past decade or so.

"Kingsbarns has deservedly earned a reputation as one of the finest golf courses in the world," said Hogg. "This is a rare opportunity to work at such a prestigious course with its capable existing management team. After having worked overseas I am well aware of the high regard in which Kingsbarns is held within the golfing community."

After being introduced to golf by his father, Thomas, at the age of six, Hogg played at Torphin Hill and Baberton before starting his PGA training at Deer Park, where he worked under David Matthew.

He moved to Haggs Castle in Glasgow and then Alloa before a chance encounter led to a life-changing experience.

"I was up playing at St Andrews and got chatting to Walter Woods (the course superintendent there at the time] and he told me that Prince Maximilian of Bavaria was looking for a golf teacher," recalled Hogg.

"Two weeks later, at the age of 23, I was off to a club located to the south of Munich to become the club professional and, during my time there, I was proud to see the facilities get better and better."

After playing on the Challenge Tour for three years – he also teed up in a few European Tour events – Hogg decided to take a degree in business, a career move that helped secure his the position as director of the Golf and Vital Park in Bad Waldsee, which is in the south-west of Germany almost on the Swiss border.

He was there for seven years and was in charge of a complex that included 27 holes as well as a 40-bedroom hotel.

Two years ago he returned to Scotland to watch one of his sons, Jake, play in the Scottish Boys' Stroke-Play Championship at Ladybank and now Fife is set to become the family home.

"We are pleased to have a proven executive of Alan's calibre join our dedicated management team," said Kingsbarns company chairman Art Dunkley.

"We are honoured to be ranked amongst the elite golf courses in the world and Alan has a clear vision of how to take Kingsbarns to an even higher standard of excellence.

"The large number of highly-qualified executives who put their names forward for consideration was gratifying.

"I and our entire Kingsbarns team appreciate Alan's commitment to return to Scotland to join Kingsbarns as its new chief executive."

Shanks seals second title

ALASTAIR SHANKS has tasted Glencorse glory for the second time after beating Keith Young in the club championship final.

A decade after winning the title for the first time, he regained the title with a 4 and 3 victory over the defending champion.

"I have been in four finals in total now: 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011," said Shanks. "It seems I get to the final every five years and have ten years between victories. Hopefully, it won't be as long till the next one!"

Robson's run

MIKE ROBSON staged a Houdini act to retain his title, recovering from two down with four to play to beat Bryan Byars by two holes.

Robson finished 3-3-3-4 at the Braids, winning the 15th and 16th with birdies and the last two with pars.

Cameron Bruce, another Harrison member, won the Rocks Open at Winterfield, where he equalled the course record with a 60, while Donny Munro chalked up his first-ever ace – after a 26-year wait – playing in the Harrison Monday Medal.

Carson class

ROBIN CARSON followed in the footsteps of his dad Robin by winning the Dalmahoy club championship for the first time.

He beat Chris Brown 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final and was a worthy winner after his earlier victims had also included David Marshall, who led the qualifying by five shots helped by a course-record 59, nine-under, on the West.

In an excellent junior final, Callum Cochrane, beaten finalist in this year's Lothians Boys' Championship, won at the 37th hole against long-hitting Josh Rooney.

Ace Thomson

GARY THOMSON was feeling 'ace' after a hole-in-one helped him win the Duddingston club championship, ending young gun Cameron Hay's brave run in the final.

Thomson beat Keith Millar, Duncan Ireland and Stuart Smith en route to the final, which he won 8 and 7 against Hay, whose victims had included David Miller in the semis.

Kids queue up for coaching

DUDDINGSTON, which came on board this year as the city's 18th golf facility offering the national junior programme, clubgolf, has been so successful with its first four weeks of coaching that it plans to expand the numbers following the schools holidays.

"We have had a dozen kids coming to coaching every Thursday night so far," said volunteer coach Craig Wilson, pictured above. "Most of them have never played the game before, but they seem to have all progressed well week on week and they are obviously enjoying learning new skills.

"Because more kids are asking for the opportunity of coaching we will hopefully be expanding after the holidays and will have another eight children on a second session on a Sunday."