Scotland�s success in the Eisenhower Trophy could lead to greater things according to Ian Rae, the national coach, who believes that the Scottish trait of gallant failure in the wider sporting context is a thing of the past.

Scotland's success in the Eisenhower Trophy, the world amateur team championship, could lead to greater things according to Ian Rae, the national coach, who believes that the Scottish trait of gallant failure in the wider sporting context is a thing of the past for up-and-coming golfers.

"It was a phenomenal achievement," said Rae of the victory in Australia by Callum Macaulay, who has since turned professional, Wallace Booth and Gavin Dear. "It shows where Scottish golf is going. It has given the whole country a lift and it will give younger players role models close to home and a higher level to aim at."

Rae, who has just been accorded the PGA's highest status of master professional, accepts there is an issue in converting amateur players into European Tour professionals but points to solid groundwork being laid and says it is only a matter of time.

"I think we need self-belief," said Rae. "Scotland has a culture of maybe not being as strong in that department as we could be. We have always had great character and heart but we have to believe we are capable of winning bigger events in amateur and professional golf.

"We are getting there. We have more and more players on the Challenge Tour. Scots won three events on that tour this year and there were a few seconds. We have maybe not been converting enough through into the European Tour yet, but that will definitely come."

Rae is well aware that ultimately success will be gauged by performance at top professional level. The absence of a Scot for the first time this year in the modern era of the Ryder Cup and the paucity of Scots even participating in major championships is depressing.

What is happening, however, at developmental level is heartening and there was a clear build-up to the Eisenhower win, notably with victories in the European Nations Cup and then in the strokeplay section of the European Team Championship.

It was hardly a big step from there to becoming world-beaters because at the previous Eisenhower Trophy, European nations took six of the top nine places.

"The players certainly had a great belief before they went to Australia that they could win the event, and the preparations were great. We had a debrief at the end and there weren't too many things we would have changed," said Rae.

Whereas in the past Scottish amateurs might have suffered from overplay on links, nowadays there is confidence no matter what the test.

That, too, was illustrated in the Eisenhower Trophy that was played over Royal Adelaide, an inland course with some fiery links characteristics, and the Grange, an American-type course.

"Our guys can adapt to both," said Rae, "and that showed when we were leading by four shots after calm weather in the first three days when we played twice on the Grange and only once on Royal Adelaide. Then when the wind blew on the final round we quickly built a big lead while the other countries struggled.

"We now know we can win on any course in any country."

There is still an emphasis on links golf on Scottish Golf Union schedules, which is hardly surprising given the quality of such courses here. The dilemma, however, is that when players progress as tournament professionals on the Challenge Tour and European Tour the vast majority of play is on the parkland type.

"Maybe we should be doing more of that. There are some fantastic inland courses in Scotland like Ladybank and Downfield and maybe they are not long enough now," said Rae, "but we are travelling the world and playing in different types of conditions so we are getting better at it."

The prospects for amateur golf this year remain good. Dear and Booth are still available, as is the experienced Keir McNicoll, and Rae points to players like Michael Stewart, David Law and Steven McEwan, who are rapidly coming through.

Although Macaulay is lost in one sense, that is precisely the objective: to get these players into the paid ranks. "That is what we are going to be measured on," said Rae, and there is encouraging support from players who are already there, notably from Paul Lawrie, who was on hand during a squad session a week ago at St Andrews.

Macaulay and most of the most recently turned professionals have, in another sense, never left the fold. Andrew McArthur, Eric Ramsay, Richie Ramsay and George Murray still come to squad days for coaching support and back-up in sports psychology, nutrition and fitness. "They get benefit and so do we because the young kids can learn from them," said Rae.

"Callum was always going to tour school, as were Wallace, Gavin and Keir. The plan was for them to be turning pro but they are not going to do that unless they can compete. In Callum's case it has worked and he has got off to a great start. By making the cut in his first two tournaments he will be growing in self-belief and confidence.

"Unfortunately for the others it hasn't, but there's still going to be a great amateur schedule for them over the next 12 months. There's always something for them to be going for like the Walker Cup. They'll learn by their achievements and they will also learn by their disappointments."

Rae, meanwhile, is mystified by recent criticism that SGU coaching is too rigid. On their return, the Eisenhower trio were full of praise for the personal programmes they enjoy. "I don't know where the misconceptions are coming from. We try to treat players as total individuals. There is not one system for all," he assured.