Gavin Dear in Aviemore action

Jun 21 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

GLOBETROTTING Big County golfer Gavin Dear is teeing-up on home soil this week.

And it’s a welcome break from a relentless schedule which has seen him board more than 30 flights already this season.

The former world amateur team champion is bidding to win the PGA Scottish Hydro Challenge which has a prize fund of 220,000 Euros.

And after enduring a fraught build-up to his last Challenge Tour event in France, the Murrayshall man is hoping the countdown to Aviemore goes more smoothly.

“The last tournament was pretty stressful. I was stuck in a Slovenian airport for seven hours after flight problems and then the airline lost my clubs en route to France.

“Taylor-Made rushed me replacements but they weren’t set-up for me and I went into the tournament without a practice round. It was far from ideal,” he admitted, after being unable to mount a serious challenge.

The Scone pro has also been playing through the pain barrier this season and yesterday credited Scottish Institute of Sport physios for answering an SOS.

“The back problem is a hangover from Tour School but I have been getting treatment from the Institute because it flared-up again while I was away. They have been tremendous. The difference is like night and day.

“I got in another session on Tuesday morning before heading back to Aviemore for another practice round. Steven Hume from Perth is caddying for me this week and he joined my dad Graeme and I for a game on Sunday.

“I had played Spey Valley before and it’s a course I like. It is a cracking venue for the Scottish Hydro Challenge event and one of the most talked about courses on tour. The guys really enjoy playing there because it is demanding off the tee.

“It becomes more special playing in Scotland when you hardly ever get the chance. It allows friends and family to come and watch. I can get a couple of days at home and it’s cheaper!”

Reflecting on the season so far after stepping-up from a successful Alps Tour, Gavin said: “The high so far is obviously winning on the EPD tour. While it’s not the Challenge it was still a good win.

“The travelling is more significant than last year because it’s country to country now. Getting on the right flights at the right times is becoming more and more important so I’m trying to book ahead and plan my schedule a couple of months in advance.”

The Murrayshall man has clocked-up thousands of miles this year.

He said: “The more exotic places have been Kenya, India and Columbia. But usually it’s a case of airport – hotel – course – hotel – airport. We don’t really get out to see much of the countries hosting tournaments.

“But I really liked Columbia. The people were very nice, it’s nice and green, it was clean and the food was very good.

“I managed to get floored by a bad bout of food poisoning in Kenya so didn’t leave with a good impression – although we did find Irn Bru there. It’s amazing where you find that stuff.

“The Tour provides shuttle services and tournament hotels in far-flung places. Back in Europe it’s hire cars and our own hotels.

“That can pose problems. My Eisenhower teammate Callum Macaulay and I got well and truly lost in Brussels looking for a Mexican restaurant!”

Gavin, attached to Murrayshall Golf Club, admits being part of Scottish Hydro Team has been a huge help.

“I am very lucky that the Scottish Hydro sponsorship came along when it did as there is a lot of expense associated with the travelling. Their support has made a huge difference to my ability to schedule ahead and play freely.

“Apart from the Scottish Hydro Challenge it’s unlikely I will be playing again this year in Scotland.

“The Challenge tour has a full schedule and it’s not even worth trying to qualify for the Open because taking two weeks off would work against my goal of finishing top 45 on the Challenge Tour.”

Gavin joined fellow members of Team Scottish Hydro at the company’s Dunkeld Road headquarters.

Team Scottish Hydro was set-up this year and is supporting five emerging Scottish professional golfers on the European Challenge Tour in a bid to produce more Scottish European Tour and Ryder Cup stars. Taking a break from training, they challenged Hydro staff to demonstrate their skills on a specially designed 40-foot putting green.

Liam Barn, marketing project manager for Scottish Hydro, said: “It was great fun for the staff with an opportunity to win prizes and test themselves against the professionals from Team Scottish Hydro.

“The pros were on hand to offer advice on how to hit the perfect putt and also answer questions about golf in general and their lives on tour.”