A case of mistaken identity? Your correspondent was reading an article in an American golf magazine – yes, I don’t just gaze witlessly at the pictures – and it referenced David Orr, “based at the Whitecraigs Club in Glasgow”, and how his canny, technical nous with the putter had helped German golfer Esther Henseleit win a silver medal at the Olympics.
There were glowing quotes from Henseleit about Orr’s game-changing input so, naturally, this scribe picked up the phone and got in touch with him.
“Congratulations on the Olympic success,” I said after the initial exchange of pleasantries. “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” came the mystified response.
Apparently, there’s a putting guru in the USA called David Orr. “But I’ll take the tremendous PR,” added the Scottish David Orr with a great guffaw.
He may not be savouring an Olympic silver, but Orr continues to set a gold standard when it comes to encouraging juniors and women into the game.
Backed by a supportive membership, Orr’s various initiatives, programmes and schemes have been welcomed with open arms. In the six years that he has been based at Whitecraigs, on the city’s southside, Orr has helped promote considerable growth across a variety of categories.
“We have upwards of 85 junior members now,” said Orr. “We have a Wee Wonders programme which is for 5 to 10-year-olds. I started with 35 or so kids and it’s now at 110.
"The girls’ programme has gone from nothing to 22. Every category of membership is going up and, in some ways, we are bucking a lot of trends. The membership is jumping here.
“I’m lucky that the members buy into this. They know the juniors are the future of the club. Our facilities have helped too. As well as the course, we have a driving range, a nine-hole par-three course, a new short game facility and an indoor simulator. The club has invested and we are very lucky.
“You can’t do these things without the support of your members but we’re all on the same page. I can’t do classes for 20 odd kids myself. So, we get members giving up their time to do classes. The whole thing only works with that support.”
As for the good ladies of the golfing scene? Well, the widespread recruitment drive, pushed by The R&A and other golf custodians, could be accompanied by a Kitchener poster. Scottish Golf, the amateur governing body, has set an ambitious target of a 15 per cent increase in female memberships by 2027.
Orr is certainly doing his bit on that front. “It’s a massive area,” said the 50-year-old, whose brother Steven is the national boys’ coach with England Golf.
“We are seeing so many women coming in. Our women’s membership here is north of 270 which, arguably, is one of the biggest in the west of Scotland. With a strong women’s section, you then get girls and families. It’s a great platform to build on.”
A professional for over 25 years, Orr’s passion for the job remains undiminished. As always in this game, there are what ifs, if onlys and ones that got away.
Back in 2005, the former Scottish PGA champion was right on course for a place on the European - now DP World – Tour but stumbled at the last hurdle in the final round of the qualifying school at San Roque.
“I had my chance at San Roque and I didn’t take it,” he reflected. “I was good friends with Marc Warren – his kids come to Whitecraigs now – and he was on tour 20 years. I sometimes think that could’ve been me. I’m not saying I would’ve had the same success as Marc but I still thought I could’ve made a decent living out there.
"But there’s no point looking back. I had a good playing career, I’ve had a teaching career and I’ve been in club pro jobs. I have a holistic view of the game of golf and I can use all those experiences to help others.”
The one thing the multi-tasking Orr can’t sort is the Scottish weather. The summer has been so infuriatingly sodden, there are golf courses in the home of the game that are beginning to rust.
“Our course was shut four days in August which is bonkers,” he said. “It’s so frustrating and not good for the industry. The weather is a big challenge.”
Under Orr’s shrewd watch, at least the outlook at Whitecraigs Golf Club is much brighter.
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