Bill Lockie has built up a reputation as one of Scotland's most knowledgeable golf coaches, but the competitive flame still burns in him.
And it's that which takes the Ayrshireman to Northamptonshire County Golf Club on Wednesday (May 27) to defend the Senior PGA Professional Championship he won over the same course a year ago.
"I was tickled to win that," says the 61-year-old semi-retired pro who, 21 years ago, was PGA captain of the Scottish Region.
"As far as I was concerned, winning the PGA seniors was my major, and I'm proud to have done so. I'd been runner-up in a play-off in 2003, and I really thought my chances had gone."
That looked also to be the case a year ago as he began the final round two off the pace. But an inward nine of 32, culminating in his holing an outrageous 75-footer on the last green, brought victory by a stroke from Farthingstone's Mike Gallagher.
Lockie, who retired as head pro at Kilmarnock Barassie a few years ago, hasn't let the grass grow, playing twice a week at nearby Glasgow Gailes.
"I also do a couple of days' coaching each week at North Gailes driving range, and I've been involved with the clubgolf scheme here in Scotland, which is an initiative linked to the 2014 Ryder Cup, whereby we teach people to be golf tutors of primary schoolchildren."
He also does winter coaching at his alma mater, Strathclyde University, from which he graduated 40 years ago with a degree in business studies. And, no mean painter, he joined the local art club four years ago, and has sold some acrylics, including one of Royal Troon's famed Postage Stamp hole; there are even prints of that for sale in local shops.
In contrast, one of Lockie's main rivals at Northampton, Phil Harrison, is still up to his ears full-time in the golf business. As part-owner of Wildwood Country Club at Alford in Surrey, Harrison knows the stresses of trying to run a sports business in these straitened times. But, like Lockie, his competitive juices still flow.
Just two months ago on a European Seniors Tour event in Brunei, he shot the second lowest final-round score, a 68, to tie for 29th with such senior luminaries as Gordon J Brand and Bill Longmuir.
Others heading for Northants with impressive credentials are Austrain-based former winner, Donald Stirling, Mike Gallagher, and former PGA Cup player, Stephen Bennett from Waltham Windmill near Grimsby.
The winner picks up £4,750, and the leading 20 finishers gain entry to the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship at Slaley Hall from June 25-28.
25 May, 2009