GOLF IN SCOTLAND

TELL US ABOUT GOLF IN SCOTLAND

It is the home of golf and we are spoiled with the quality of golf courses available to us here. I am lucky enough to have played some of the top courses in the country.

The sport is popular here and has become even more popular since the start of the pandemic, as we were able to play golf from May 2020 when other sports and activities were still shut down because of national lockdowns.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE SPORT?

I started playing golf when I was 10 years old and began to take it more seriously as a teenager. Originally, I found an old set of clubs in the shed and I just started swinging in the back garden. I had a friend across the street who started playing at the same time. His dad played and would take us to the practice range and then we progressed onto the course from there. 

I have always played with a group of friends and over time that group has grown as we have gotten older, especially as people get older and have stopped playing football and other sports so have turned to golf as an alternative. We are all quite competitive. 

WHY DO YOU LOVE IT?

I ask myself this a lot as it can also be frustrating! I like that you are constantly challenging yourself; it doesn’t matter what anyone else does, it is what you do an any given day. You are not reliant on anyone else and there is nowhere to hide. You are fully accountable, and you get out of it what you put into it. I like that aspect; it drives me on to try and better my previous performances or achievements. 

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS?

I have won three club championships, one regional open competition and competed in Scotland’s national amateur championship. I also represent my club in their team league and in 2018 we won the regional league we compete in for the first time in 40 years, which was a great achievement for all involved. There are 400 members at my club, so to make the team of 8 best golfers takes a lot of practice. 

My biggest achievement is reaching a handicap of +1 which is reasonably uncommon. A handicap is the metric by which you rate the quality of a golfer. It took me 25 years of playing to reach my lifetime goal of scratch (zero) handicap, and I have since progressed further meaning that every time I play, I must add a stroke to my score. Most golfers benefit from their handicap as they can reduce their final scores by subtracting their handicap, rather than having to add shots on which I now have to do. That is one of the great things about the game though, the handicap system allows people of varying abilities to compete fairly against each other, I can’t think of any other sports where that is the case. 

For most golfers, there will always be a goal and it’s related to their handicap, regardless of the level they are at. It is about the next significant step, be it to go from 36 to 18, or 17 to a single figure handicap. 

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE EVENT?

Playing the Scottish Amateur Championship in 2018 when I competed against the best amateur players in the country. It was a week-long event open to amateur golfers from all over the world. It was a great experience and eye opening to compete with the top amateurs in the country. 

Northern Marine have always hosted Company golf events for their employees, and I was fortunate enough to have won one of those. These have been excellent for socialising with colleagues outside of the workplace. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS ON YOUR WELLNESS? (PHYSICAL AND MENTAL)

The benefits from playing golf are multi-faceted. There is the exercise aspect, but it also has different benefits to your mental health. The golf club I am a member of is only a 15-minute drive from the NMG office so playing a few holes in the evening is a good way to unwind after a day at the office, or you can get fulfilment and achievement from playing well in an important competition. When we play as a team there is camaraderie and great social benefits. If you play badly there are of course great frustrations, but the lure is that anyone can play a good shot at any time. That is what brings us all back to play again. 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE AT NORTHERN MARINE

I am responsible for overseeing any agreements that Northern Marine Group of companies enter into, and ensuring that appropriate insurance cover is in place for any activities we have involvement in. I also manage the corporate risk profile of the Group. I enjoy that I have insight into the range of activities and ventures that the Group is involved in.