Bulgarian Michael Kanev lands pro post at top Edinburgh club

Michael Kanev is leaving Lochgelly to take up a new post at Kingsknowe next month

He is taking up the head pro position at Kingsknowe early next month after being appointed to replace Iain Lowdean, who is moving to Baberton.

Sofia-born Kanev, who is currently the club pro at Lochgelly in Fife, moved to Edinburgh with his mum in 1997.

He cut his golfing teeth at as a member of Carrickvale and Royal Musselburgh before winning the Bulgarian Amateur Open in 2006.

He then earned a place in the record books as part of the first Bulgarian team to play in the Eisenhower Trophy in South Africa the same year.

After turning professional, Kanev started his PGA training during a spell in London before joining Richard Brian's staff at Bruntsfield Links in 2015.

He then moved to Lochgelly in 2018 but is now about to return to the Capital, where he lives with his wife Kamala and their daughter, Maxine.

"It is very exciting that golf is my life now," said Kanev. "To have come to Scotland not knowing a single thing about golf and now being an expert is great.

"I got lucky after leaving London when it was becoming too expensive. I emailed every pro in Edinburgh and, without knowing, Richard was looking for an assistant at that time at Bruntsfield Links.

"I had an amazing time there and definitely think that helped me with the appointment at Kingsknowe.

"I moved to Lochgelly as I wanted to have the experience of putting my own stamp on things and now I am very excited about my new challenge."

In terms of playing, Kanev has had to settle for the Tartan Tour rather than the European Tour but he has no complaints about that.

"It is a slightly different career path than I had envisaged, but I really enjoy being a club professional," he added.

"Playing is almost a hobby now and I actually enjoy it more than I ever have, which is nice."