Sign up for our daily newsletter

Want latest news, reviews, analysis, deals, and events, and offers from our commercial partners? We’ve got you.

Dornoch and Arizona are separated by almost 5,000 miles, several notches on the thermostat, and just about every conceivable cultural compass point.

So, it is to Jimmy Gunn’s enormous credit that he not only had the guts to make the move to the American west coast state but that he has been able to stick it out and mould a successful career for himself as a professional golfer.

The 36-year-old has been based there for almost a decade, after turning pro at the age of 27 – by modern standards, very late to make the switch to the paid ranks.

I miss proper Scottish bacon

And although his Highland lilt is now infused with some trans-Atlantic inflections, he insists he is still every bit as ‘Scottish’ as one of the things he misses most about his homeland: Irn-Bru.

Jimmy Gunn1

“You can’t get it anywhere over there,” he laughs. “I actually think the FDA [the US Food and Drug Administration agency] has banned it because it contains something that they don’t like, which is a shame.

“And bacon. I miss proper Scottish bacon. I don’t understand how the stuff we get here isn’t available over there. I mean, we have their bacon here – why can’t they have ours? It’s a better cut over here, so they’d probably enjoy it.”

Traditional Scottish ‘cuisine’ aside, one thing Gunn doesn’t miss is the weather. It was, in fact, one of the factors behind his decision to move to the States.

Jimmy Gunn2

Born and raised in the Highlands, where he attended Golspie High and Dornoch Academy, Gunn was taught to play golf by his granddad, 11 times a club champion at Royal Dornoch and three times a county champion.

He left school at 16, whereafter he spent two years on the oil rigs and then another three working for his father as a carpenter.

When he wasn’t doing any of that, he could most often be found at Royal Dornoch, where he caddied for seven years to fund his own amateur game.

Jimmy Gunn4

It was in 2005, when he was part of a 12-man team from the club that visited Circling Raven Golf Club in Idaho for a friendship-building Ryder Cup-style competition, that his dream of playing professionally for a living first started to crystalise.

The hosts of the trip were so impressed with what they saw that week from Gunn that they kept in touch with him and, ultimately, persuaded him to move to the States to follow his dream.

As well as assisting him financially, they helped him gain a US Sports Visa, which allowed him to compete on the Gateway Tour. In return, he displayed the Circling Raven’s logo on his golf bag.

Next page >


author headshot

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

More Reads

Image Turnberry green

The bunkered Golf Course Guide - Scotland

Now, with bunkered, you can discover the golf courses Scotland has to offer. Trust us, you will not be disappointed.

Find Courses

Latest podcast

The PLAYERS Championship