David Gourlay (Scotland)

David Gourlay (Scotland)

David took time off from a hectic playing schedule to head up Scotland's challenge for medals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, pouring all of his energies into a very successful tartan campaign. As National Head Coach, he inspired his five player team of men and women to a golden Games result for the enthusiastic Tartan Army where the men won three of the four gold medals on offer, winning the singles, pairs and fours while South Africa claimed the triples gold. David hails from one of the most famous bowling families in the world, with his father David Snr and mother Sarah both world and Commonwealth gold medallists in their own right with the young David honing his skills for the game on his home turf at Annbank in Ayrshire from a very early age. Born in 1966, David first won acclaim in his formative years on the indoor circuit for Prestwick, where he captured every title available to him on the Scottish national calendar. He got his first call up to international duty indoors in 1987, representing Prestwick for 11 years before earning a recall in 2000 and 2001 for the West of Scotland club in Glasgow. Outdoors he represented Annbank and the Willow Bank club in the West End of Glasgow, being selected for the Kuala Lumuar Commonwealth Games in 1988 where he lead for Alex Marshall in the pairs. He built up a successful bowls and bowling accessory business on the South Side of the City and spent half his year in Glasgow and the other half in Australia where he played for the Mt Lewis club in Sydney. The universally respected Scot was therefore the ideal candidate when Bowls Scotland cast their net for a National coach to head up the team when Glasgow host the Commonwealth Games at the iconic Kelvingrove Park.. On the WBT front, David was without a doubt the most consistent player in the early years of the Tour, hogging the number 1 spot for almost six years where he gained the reputation as a rock solid performer and prolific winner on the world stage in singles, pairs and mixed pairs with his latest success coming at Llanelli in 2012 when he regained the Welsh Grand Prix title. He remains a much respected and threatening opponent and is a consistent performer on the Tour where he is well known for the many hours of dedicated practice he exhibits on the portable rink ahead of any event. In 2016 he got to the semi-finals just loosing out on a measure to eventual singles winner Nicky Brett.

Recent Achievements:-

2016 - 2021 Returned to the role of Scottish National Coach

2018 WBT International Open Winner (Newton Hall, Blackpool)

2017 WBT Scottish International Open Winner (Perth, Scotland)

2016 Winner of the WBT International Open for a record fourth time playing with the International bowls model!