Bowling bobby Darren Burnett put First Minister Alex Salmond through his paces in Arbroath.
The Commonwealth Games gold medallist praised Mr Salmond’s efforts after giving him a lesson at the Abbey Bowling Club on Monday.
Mr Salmond visited the Arbroath bowling club during the last stop of the Scottish Cabinet’s tour ahead of the referendum on September 18.
He was given a white bowling jacket and shoes on arrival and took part in a match against Mr Burnett, who is also a local policeman, and sports minister Shona Robison.
Mr Burnett’s advice paid off as Mr Salmond’s first bowl was perfectly weighted and ended up rolling up just short of the jack.
“He was very good,” said Mr Burnett afterwards. “His first bowl was very close to the jack I’m taking the credit for the coaching I gave him!”
Afterwards Mr Burnett was presented with a Commonwealth Games legacy plaque, which he accepted on behalf of Arbroath Community Sports Hub.
Mr Salmond also announced that £420,000 will be invested over a four-year period to support Bowls Scotland in recruiting development officers and a coaching manager.
Mr Burnett who also won the World Indoor Singles Championship in January said the £420,000 investment from sportscotland was great news for the sport.
He said: “Bowls has been in decline and this is just what we need to steer it back in the right direction.
“We want to get the community involved in the game and dispel the myth that it’s an old people’s game.
“Abbey Bowling Club has a junior section of about 30 members and that’s what you want all clubs to strive towards.”
Mr Burnett added that there was no reason why Arbroath couldn’t produce another world champion in the coming years.
Mr Salmond said the performance of the Scottish lawn bowls team at the Commonwealth Games was “an inspiration”.
“In light of the golden glow around Scottish lawn bowls, there is no better time to encourage new people into the sport,” he added.
“Like any sport, bowls needs new recruits to try, enjoy and compete, so I am delighted that following the magnificent achievements of the Team Scotland bowlers, this additional investment will help Bowls Scotland give the next generation a taste of this fantastic sport.”
Bowls Scotland CEO Alan McMillan said: “We are committed to growing our sport in the local communities that bowls serves throughout Scotland and look forward to discussing new concepts and ideas on how we can achieve this with the Scottish Government and sportscotland.”