The University of Stirling’s Head of Golf has been selected to lead the Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) team at the prestigious Walker Cup in California next year.
The R&A announced that Dean Robertson will be team captain for the biennial contest – which sees GB&I’s best male amateurs take on their American counterparts in matchplay format.
Golf A-listers Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Pádraig Harrington, and Colin Montgomerie are among those to have competed in the competition.
Dean – a former European Tour player – played in the 1993 Walker Cup in Minnesota and, as captain, he will be in charge of selection for 2025. The competition, on September 6 and 7, 2025, will be held at the exclusive Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach – regarded as one of the finest courses in golf, with a series of dramatic holes along the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
Dean, 53, said: “To have represented GB&I in the St Andrews Trophy and the Walker Cup was the pinnacle of my amateur career and an incredible privilege. Now to have the honour of captaining the GB&I teams is something I could not have imagined – but it is one that I am thrilled about.
“I very much look forward to galvanising the teams for the matches ahead with the all-important focus on being well prepared and playing to win.”
Dean Robertson, Head of Golf at the University of Stirling, has been selected as captain for the GB&I Walker Cup team.
As an amateur, Dean won the Scottish Youths Amateur Open Championship in 1991, the Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship in 1992, and the Scottish Amateur Championship in 1993.
At the 1993 Walker Cup, at Interlachen Country Club in Edina, Minnesota, Dean won his singles match against Jay Sigel – but, in a one-sided affair, GB&I lost the competition 19-5.
As a professional, Dean won the European Tour’s Italian Open in 1999 and the Scottish PGA Championship in 2006. He also competed in The Open Championship on four occasions, with his best finish being tied 26th at St Andrews in 2000.
Success
Dean has led the high-performance golf programme at Stirling – Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence – since 2010. During his tenure, he has developed some of the country’s most promising golfing talent. In recent years, highlights have included former scholar Louise Duncan joining the professional Ladies European Tour after excelling on the programme, and Lorna McClymont being crowned best female student golfer in the UK in 2023, and George Cannon the best male. McClymont also won the 2022/23 R&A Student Order of Merit and two major amateur competitions – the Irish Open and Welsh Open.
Scholars have also enjoyed international success under Dean’s leadership – being selected for major team competitions, including the Arnold Palmer Cup, Curtis Cup and Vagliano Trophy; competing in competitions across Europe and the United States.
Notably, in 2009 Dean was Head Coach of the Arnold Palmer Cup Team. Graduates of the University programme have also competed in the Walker Cup previously: Colin Dalgleish, Gordon Sherry, Richie Ramsay, Gavin Dear, Jack McDonald and Cormac Sharvin.
Achievement
David Bond, Head of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Dean, and we are very proud to see him take on this highly prestigious title.
“I am sure Dean will approach the role with same the vigour and detail that he brings to the golf programme at Stirling, which will stand the team in good stead for the upcoming challenges they face. We wish Dean every success within the role and will support him all the way.”
The United States team for 2025 will be captained by Nathan Smith, an amateur golfer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who has played in three Walker Cups: 2009, 2011 and 2013.
Organised by the R&A and the United States Golf Association, the Walker Cup began in 1922, with the United States leading the series 38-9. Selection to play in the historic match is often regarded as the highlight of an amateur’s career. GB&I will be aiming for success at Cypress Point following four straight losses in the Walker Cup, the most recent a narrow defeat to the USA in St Andrews last September.
Scholarships
Through its golf scholarship programme, the University of Stirling provides a fantastic package of support to its athletes – including training, competition, funding and academic support. Scholars have access to the University’s world-class facilities, high performance coaches, and innovative sports science support. More information is available on the University website.