Meet Stephen Dundas, Director of Golf at Pestovo Golf and Yacht Club

How did you get into golf?

I’ve watched golf on TV when I was 4 and asked my dad to take me to try it. I played on a Pitch & Putt for a year and when I was five I finally got to play my first round of golf.

Tell us a bit about your The Open experience? How did you feel at the first tee?

As a kid you dream about playing at The Open. Hitting that 1st tee shot and walking up the 18th hole with the huge grand stands… It was a dream come true.

I was not so nervous as I had already played in The Masters, other PGA Tour and European Tour events, but I would still say it was in my top 3 golfing experiences.

You are the Director of Golf at Pestovo Golf and Yacht club since 2008. What are you most proud of since taking the role? 

There are many achievements I am proud of while at Pestovo Golf and Yacht Club.

In 2008, we had 15 members, made 800,000₽ in lessons and had no sponsors. Today, we have 140 active golfers, 11 million ₽ in lessons and 20 million ₽ in sponsorship. But more importantly, it’s been nice to grow and train my team. They are now very knowledgeable about golf and hospitality.

How do you see the golf industry evolve in the next 10 years? And how Russian golf will evolve?

In order to grow the game at a faster pace, Russia and most countries need more driving ranges, Pitch & Putt courses and 6 to 9-hole golf courses near cities. The Russian Golf Association is doing a great job and more than 20,000 kids have been introduced to golf through educational programs. We also need to make sure that the best talents can continue to evolve and be competitive on an international level.

What do you think of the All Square website and Apps?

I think anything that provides a platform for people to share their experiences in this great game can only help grow the game and keep golfers more engaged. All Square is a fantastic tool to facilitate golfers lives and encourage interaction between golfers.

What is your favorite golf destination?

It is hard to beat Scotland if the weather is good but that’s a big IF!

Palm Desert and Dominican Republic are pretty cool destinations too, but what I have to say for sure is that people have to come to Russia to play golf. Many of our courses offer the highest standards of quality. Golfers will be impressed.

What are your 3 favorite courses in Europe? the UK? the US? Asia?

In Continental Europe they would be: Pestovo Golf and Yacht Club, Morfontaine Golf Club, Real Club de Golf Sotogrande

In the UK they would be: Loch Lomond Lomond Golf Club, The Nairn Golf Club, Hankley Common Golf Club

In the US they would be: Augusta National Golf Club, Muirfield Village Golf Club, The Madison Club

In Asia they would be:Blue Canyon Country Club,Red Mountain Golf Club, Laguna Phuket Golf Club