It’s tough for youngsters

COACHES can find it hard sometimes to manage the expectations of pushy parents.

I have just been on the other side of it with my son Josh and, thankfully, my experience as a PGA professional has enabled me to keep his feet on the ground.

Josh, a member of Prestbury, has accepted a golf scholarship at the University of Central Arkansas and would like to become a top tour pro. Sensibly, he has also talked about a career in sports science or physiotherapy.

Josh is part of the England regional coaching squad, playing off a scratch handicap at the age of 17.

The competition is so hot – he has been competing for a US college spot with players of his age from all over Europe playing off handicaps as good as plus five.

Although I’m blessed with excellent contacts after almost a quarter of a century at Mottram Hall, I have needed assistance to help get Josh his spot.

This is where Dan Haughian, a sports consultant and PGA coach based at the Adlington Driving Range in Macclesfield, has come in.

Dan is an expert at placing youngsters on the US college circuit. Even with his help it is only now – two months away from the collegiate signing deadline day – Josh knows he is going to the States in August.

Josh was on a waiting list at Central Arkansas and he got in because a Dutch youngster switched.

What clinched it for Josh was that on the same day he produced the best result of his career.

He finished tied second in the Peter McEvoy Trophy, a national boys event which lists Justin Rose and Lee Westwood among previous winners.

The tournament was played on the Copt Heath course in Birmingham and when Josh fell off the pace late on, he responded by almost making three birdies in a row – a 30-footer lipping out at 16. American colleges put great store on how amateurs perform under pressure away from their own course.

Josh is improving so rapidly, anything is possible. Crucially, he has a Plan B.

In association with Mottram Hall and timmyteepr