After playing for the MCC Young Cricketers in 2005, Goudie signed a contract with Middlesex that year, but was released in 2006. Later in 2005, Goudie was called up to play for the Scottish Saltires; the Saltires were playing in the National League and were stuck at the bottom of the second division. He represented Scotland Under-19s at the 2006 Under-19 World Cup. His batting was sufficiently good that coach Peter Drinnen considered moving him to the top of the order.

Until 2008, the Scotland cricket team was made up of amateurs, players did not have contracts with the game's governing body in the country, Cricket Scotland, and balanced their sports careers with full-time jobs. Cricket Scotland began professionalising the national team in December 2008 with the introduction of contracts for three of its players. Goudie was one of the three along with fellow fast-bowler Dewald Nel and then captain Ryan Watson, allowing them to focus on playing cricket. By the following March, Goudie was noticing the effects of being able to concentrate his efforts on cricket, saying "It has made a big difference. It has given us the time to fit in all the training that we need in preparation for the and the coming season. We don't have to cram in training sessions around work."^[6] He also included in Scotland's 15-man squad for the World Cup Qualifier in April 2009,^[7] however Goudie suffered an injury during the tournament and returned home before its conclusion.^[8]

Cricket Scotland increased the number of players with full-time contracts to six in 2010, and Goudie retained his contract.^[9]