Dean Robertson's new role at Stirling University

DEAN Robertson, the former Italian Open champion, has encouraged promising young golfers to stay in Scotland on scholarships and benefit from better coaching than is available at most colleges in America.

The 40-year-old is the new high performance golf coach at the University of Stirling and is looking forward to continuing the success of a programme that has helped the likes of Catriona Matthew and Richie Ramsay go on to become successful Tour professionals.

"Golf is a game to be learned - not a subject to be taught - and Stirling is the perfect learning environment," he said. "It's got brilliant facilities and an excellent reputation, having supported players like Richie and Catriona.

Recalling his experience of being at Midland Junior College in Texas, he added: "The main difference between here and the USA for a golf scholarship is the coaches.

"Without being disrespectful, most of the coaches in the States are team managers whose role is to organise events; most are not experienced coaches with a pedigree in playing top-level golf.

"It's now up to me to take the Stirling programme up another notch and hopefully the talented young players here can tap into my experiences of playing at the highest level."

Since ending his own playing career, Robertson has become heavily involved in performance coaching, working with the English Golf Union, the Swedish Golf Federation and, closer to home, the Lothians Golf Association.

He has also launched the Scottish Junior Golf Tour (SJGT), a circuit specifically for under-14s, both boys and girls, and was coach of the European team for the last two Palmer Cups, student golf's equivalent of the Ryder Cup.

"Dean holds impressive playing records in both amateur and professional golf and is fast developing an excellent reputation as an innovative coach with fresh ideas to help develop players' games," said Raleigh Gowrie, the University of Stirling sports performance manager.

"I'm sure he will add value to our very successful golf scholarship programme operating at Scotland's University for Sporting Excellence."

Stirling are the current British Universities strokeplay and matchplay team champions and just last week a five-man side consisting of Bobby Rushford, Alexander Culverwell, David Booth, Jack Macdonald and Graeme Robertson won the 2010 International Collegiate Invitational event at Fairmont St Andrews.

"For the commitment they show me, I will meet them head-to-head," said Robertson, who partnered Colin Montgomerue in the 1999 World Cup.

"Growing up, my whole life was given to the game of golf, but they should think themselves fortunate they don't have to stare at the bottom of a swimming pool for 20 hours a week - they get to combine developing in the sport they love with a University degree."