Bishop’s Next Move
We meet another of the ridiculously talented, MENA Tour-bound teens rolling off the production line at the Butch Harmon School of Golf, Dubai.
TOBY BISHOP’S DREAMS are aligned to those of other teens with serious game – a steady progression up the amateur step-ladder to the touring life, via collegiate golf in the U.S. if all goes to plan. What’s different about the Dubai-domiciled Welsh teen is how he’s going about getting to the game’s ultimate finishing school, perhaps even Rickie Fowler’s alma mater, Oklahoma State University.
“Toby’s one of the smartest and most analytical young players I have come across,” says Bishop’s coach Jamie McConnell. “He’s constantly on a mission to figure out how he can improve, even one per cent at a time. His biggest strength is without a doubt his attitude towards the game.”
McConnell should know. Bishop was the Irish instructor’s very first lesson when he turned up for his first day of work at the Butch Harmon School of Golf, Dubai almost five years ago. Bishop was 10 then, got down to scratch three years later and now plays off a +2.1 handicap by becoming one of the most diligent workers on an Els Club Dubai range teeming with teen talent.
Indeed, the Year 10 student has Dubai English Speaking School’s blessing to permanently take Thursdays off now so he can put in a full day of prep before weekend tournaments and supplement the three-plus hours he already spends practising Sunday-Wednesday after school. There’s also gym sessions, a program implemented by BHSG fitness chief Allister Parlane two years ago that has had a significant impact on the 15-year-old’s posture and is, in turn, helping him on the way to a more explosive swing speed. The goal is 115mph by the age of 17.
It also helps to have pals like Josh Hill and Arjun Gupta flushing balls beside him on the range and winning tournaments too.
“We are always trying to beat each other which is part of the reason we are such good friends. We have a competitive relationship,” Bishop says before giving an insight into his own single-minded work ethic. “I also enjoy practising by myself to really focus on the parts of my game I need to improve and develop the dedication that it takes to make it as one of the world’s best.
“I love keeping my swing in a good position, something Jamie and I have worked on consistently. For me, being creative practising different shot shapes and flights contributes to why I spend so much time on the range.”
McConnell agrees the very friendly rivalry with Hill and Gupta has been hugely beneficial in pushing Bishop to better himself, and not just on the range.
“It’s fantastic to see the attitude of all three boys
“He’s on a mission to figure out how he can improve, even one percent at a time.”
whereby despite them all competing for that top spot, there is no animosity or bad will at any point,” McConnell said before sharing a story of how the trio began willing their pals’ putts into the hole at a tournament last season. “Above all else, they are great friends and although they always want to win, they would like to do it because they earned it and not at the detriment of the others.”
Bishop achieved both goals in his most recent win at the Faldo Series European Grand Final, winning the U-16 section at Al Ain by four strokes from Hill after challenging for the overall (U-21) title.
“I knew going into the event that my game was good enough due to all the hard work throughout the season with my coach. I have great respect for Josh as a friend and a player, so I never see it as getting one over on him. It just comes down to who plays better on the day. I hope to be competing against Josh for the rest of my life as he is very talented which brings out the best in my game.”
Bishop has largely lived in the shadow of Hill until now but underlined his emergence by reaching the semifinals of the Wales U-18 matchplay championship last summer before representing the U-16 national team in Italy. He’s not immune to playing a brilliant second fiddle with that said; last season, aged just 13, he shot a 68 for the amateur course record at Sharjah only for club stalwart Michael Harradine to snatch it back with a 67 two hours later.
Bishop typically took it on the chin, insisting he looks up to Harradine. He’s also inspired by Dubai’s most successful amateur, Rayhan Thomas, who will play at OSU from next season.
“I speak to Ray a lot about his recruitment and it is something I aspire to achieve and follow in his footsteps. With Rickie Fowler being my favourite player and orange having been my signature colour from the start of my golf career, from a young age my eyes have been set on OSU. As I have grown older, I have seen the success they have had as a college golf team and the facilities available on campus are further factors that make me want to attend OSU.”
Bishop’s next rung up the ladder is to get inside the top 1500 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking by this time next year. He intends playing the revitalised MENA Tour alongside Thomas and Hill to help facilitate that ascent. McConnell has little doubt his young charge with tick off the next milestone.
“Every year we sit down together, set goals and year upon year he has blown those goals away, and done it with a class that you would expect from a tour player rather than a 15-year-old boy.”