A CLUB pro at a West Fife golf club is feeling above par after teeing up a business sponsorship deal.

Fraser Gardiner, who works at Canmore Golf Club, will be aiming to swing into success at events – including the PGA Assistants' Championship and on the Paul Lawrie Tartan Tour – thanks to a three-year partnership with the Fusion Group.

Having joined Canmore last February, where he works closely with head professional Fraser Rummins, Gardiner turned pro in September and said it was the "right decision" despite the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gardiner, who is coached by the owner of the Forthview Golf Range, Stewart Craig, in his home village of Airth, is also a member of Glenbervie Golf Club in Larbert and is well known at clubs across the Falkirk and Stirling areas.

He has enjoyed a number of successes since beginning to play as a youngster at Falkirk Golf Club, including playing county golf with Stirlingshire Golf Union for nearly five years, and it was at Glenbervie that he met the Fusion Group's managing director, Alex McKie, who is also a keen golfer.

It is hoped that events will resume from April and, on joining Canmore before the first lockdown, Gardiner commented: "It wasn’t the best timing, as I was expecting the whole season to unfold, but I knew I would really enjoy it at Canmore, as it’s a great club.

"Together with Fraser Rummins, we’re doing our very best to create a superior golfing experience for our members. Despite all the uncertainty last year over COVID-19, it was the right decision for me to turn professional, and I have not turned back.

"I now study the game as well as playing it professionally and do all my studying and training at Canmore Golf Club.

"I’m delighted to say that during my first season at Canmore, when I was still an amateur, I managed to reach the semi-finals of the Gents' Club Championships.

"I’m very grateful to Alex and Fusion Group for this support at this time, which sees many professional sportsmen and women try to continue with their careers despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which sadly, has affected earning potential dramatically.

"We were very lucky that golf was one of the first sports back last summer, and we can but hope that we get a good season in this year on the PGA Tartan Tour."

Mr McKie added: "Having taken Fraser out for his first round as a boy, I’m obviously delighted to see him turn professional. I know how talented he is and that he will be a worthy ambassador for our business over the next few years.

"They are very lucky to have him at Canmore Golf Club."