Golf: Royal Musselburgh look to future with Smith

The 30-year-old has returned to his roots to take up the post, having served his PGA training at Prestongrange under John Henderson. After 22 years as the club’s pro, Henderson is taking on a new role as business development manager and, through the pair’s combined efforts, a new management committee is predicting a bright future.

It follows a drugs raid at the club around two years ago which netted £500,000 worth of cocaine, the pro’s position coming under threat from the old committee and staff being suspended.

“I’m coming back to a club where I’d been for a good few years and know all the members,” said Smith, who marked his appointment by taking part in a four-hole challenge along with some members and good friend Lloyd Saltman.

“I’ve enhanced my coaching career by working for a spell at Loretto School and now I’m looking forward to trying to revamp the club after a bit of bad publicity.

“Hopefully, we can all focus on trying to move the club forward again.

“We’ve got about 400 full members at the moment but we’ve got an Open Day coming up and our target is to try and attract 100 new members – we feel that is achievable.”