A KEEN golfer and Mind Factor coach from Musselburgh has seen his first book, featuring a “bucket list” of Scottish golf courses, tee off.

Colin Ramsay, 64, of The Paddock, hopes that his new publication will inspire people to take up the sport, as well as highlighting the “hidden gem” courses throughout the country.

Called A Golfer’s Bucket List of Scottish Golf Courses, he said it was primarily a reference book whereby golfers could tick off each course they played on, with space to record their playing partners, scores and memories of the day.

Mr Ramsay said the courses highlighted were not just the “trophy courses” which many golfers found too expensive to play.

He hoped that the book would be a “permanent keepsake” for golfers to record courses played, including those in East Lothian, instead of using notebooks or spreadsheets.

Mr Ramsay, a member of Kilspindie Golf Club at Aberlady, said: “Many activities have their must-do lists; for example, hillwalkers try to ‘bag’ all the Munros in Scotland.

“I decided that it was time golfers had a similar list and so the idea for this book was born. It details every golf course currently available to play in the nation where the game was invented.

“The book also includes advice to help your game, interesting articles and beautiful photographs of courses from across the country.”

Mr Ramsay started playing golf at the age of 13 on Craigentinny Golf Course in Edinburgh, which was about 300 yards from his family home.

He joined the club within the course, Lochend Golf Club, as a junior member in 1971. He went on to become junior champion and was a three-time winner of the club championship.

He was also a member of Duddingston Golf Club, where he won the junior championship in 1974 and was the beaten finalist in the club championship in 1977.

In 2014, Mr Ramsay retired from a career which spanned 40 years with the Inland Revenue, renamed HM Revenue & Customs.

He then spent four years working in the men’s locker room at Archerfield Links .

In February last year, he sought a fresh challenge and now works as the supervisor in the professional’s shop at Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society in Edinburgh.

He is a certified Mind Factor coach, mentored by performance coach Karl Morris, and has set up his own business, Golf Inner Game Coaching.

Mr Ramsay said: “My business is aimed at helping golfers of all ages and standards to achieve their true potential.

“If I can help golfers free up their minds and get out of their own way then golf can become a more enjoyable experience.”

The book’s foreword has been written by Scottish PGA professional Alan Tait, the course record holder at the championship course at Carnoustie for 23 years, from 1994 to 2017, with a score of eight under par 64.

He said: “I’ve been very lucky some four or five decades on, to have played all our ‘trophy courses’ as well as many hidden gems along the way.

“It goes without saying, we are spoiled in Scotland as golfers.

“It would be nice to look back in a book such as this and remember, in a little more detail, the experience of that day.

“Enjoy Colin’s book, create your own bucket list and jot down your experiences.”

Mr Ramsay, who is also a country member at Leven Links Golf Club and Alnmouth Golf Club, is hoping to write similar “bucket list” books for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

A Golfer’s Bucket List of Scottish Golf Courses, priced £24.99, has been released on Amazon and Waterstones, plus 70 online stores worldwide.

For more information on Golf Inner Game Coaching go to www.golfinnergamecoaching.com or email info@golfinnergamecoaching.com