Our Instructors

 


Paul Girvan
Director of Golf

From the age of 5, I took a serious interest in golf, initially through caddying for my dad at Prestwick St Nicholas.

At the age of 12 I joined Prestwick St Nicholas and I received my first senior handicap of 12. By 16 I had gained international honours in the Scottish Boys team and reduced my handicap to +2.

I went on to represent Scotland and Great Britain & Ireland on more than 40 occasions and in 1987, I was awarded Walker Cup honours at Sunningdale Golf Club.

Turning professional in 1989, I worked for Peter Thomson as Head Assistant at Erskine Golf Club.

I joined Kings Links in 1990 as senior assistant and was then promoted to Head Teaching Professional in 1996. After eight years in teaching, I was promoted to my current position as Director of Golf.

 



Steve Craig
Head Teaching Professional

An early starter, I began playing at the age of two at Lundin Golf Club, an Open qualifying course where I spent my entire amateur career.

My ambition was always to turn professional at an early age and by 16, I had reduced my handicap to scratch. I won the Scottish Under-16 title, represented Scotland at Under-18 and Under-21 levels, and represented Great Britain & Ireland at junior level (defeating the Continent of Europe for he Jacques Leglise Trophy).

In 1994, I went to Wallace College, Alabama on a golf scholarship and then turned professional in 1997, doing my PGA training at Scotscraig and Balbirnie Golf Clubs in Fife.

I spent the winter of 2000 coaching on the South American tour and then joined Kings Links in 2001. In 2005, I was promoted to my current role as Head Teaching Professional.

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Gary Lochhead
PGA Professional

I started playing golf at the age of 9 at Caird Park Golf Club in Dundee.
After a successful amateur career representing Scotland and achieving a +1 handicap, I turned professional and became Assistant Professional at Forfar Gold Club.

On graduating to a fully qualified professional, I moved to Panmure Golf Club, an Open qualifying course as Head Assistant. Before joining the team at Kings Links I was Head Teaching Professional at Letham Grange Hotel & Country Club.

My current role in the business is Assistant Manager/Teaching Professional and head up the extremely busy custom-fit department.


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Katie Thomson
PGA Assitant Professional

 I started playing golf at the age of 13 at Kintore Golf Club.  I had a successful amateur career quickly reducing my handicap down to 5 before becoming an assistant Professional at the age of 21.  My amateur successes include winning the Aberdeenshire Under 21 County Girls on 2 occasions, the Kintore Golf Club Ladies Championship on 3 consecutive years, winning the Aberdeenshire Ladies County Championship at Ballater at the age of 20 and representing the county ladies team that same year.
 
I turned Professional in October 2006 and I am currently a 3rd year Assistant Pro. I have recently joint the team at the Kings Links Golf Centre where I will be continuing to teach, I will be in charge of the Ladies Masters Programme, and be involved in the retail side of the business.

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Graeme Lornie
Trainee PGA Professional

I began playing golf at 14 and in three years reduced my handicap to 1 at Newmachar Golf Club.

I completed a three year greenkeeping apprenticeship at Newmachar and then tried my hand at golf course construction, working throughout the UK and in Norway.

I returned to greenkeeping at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club and then, after reducing my handicap to +1 and having won numerous amateur events in the North-east, I turned professional at the age of 25.

In 2006 I started my PGA training and joined Kings Links in 2007 where I am about to start my third and final year of the PGA degree.


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Our Sponsored Tour Pro:
Scott
Henderson

After working as an engineer in the oil industry, I turned pro relatively late at 22. I joined the successful team at the Kings Links Golf Centre and in 1997 I won the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year (European Tour) award.  

I am currently playing on both the Tartan Tour and Challenge tour and will hopefully gain a European Tour card at Q school later in the year.
Graeme Lornie
Trainee PGA Professional

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