Dundee golf superfan surprised to see Claret Jug in his bedroom

TROPHY: Keen golfer Joshua, 11, gets worthy addition to Open memorabilia wall with ‘amazing’ experience

A young Dundee golf superfan lived his dream when the Claret Jug ended up in his bedroom.

Eleven-year-old Joshua Marshall, from Whitfield, found the trophy sitting on his bedside table when he arrived home from school.

Joshua wanted to keep alive his memories of July’s Carnoustie Open and he asked his parents for a golf-themed wall so he could hang up all his memorabilia.

Dad Andrew, 36, duly obliged and put the Open logo on his wall and decked it out with two signed flags, a signed glove, a signed hat, his ticket and a “quiet please” marshal sign.

Mum Laura, 35, shared the snap of the finished room on Twitter which quickly went viral and led to an offer from golf’s governing body to “add a little something” to Joshua’s collection.

The Royal and Ancient (R&A) then got in touch with the family and arranged to surprise the Ballumbie Primary pupil by bringing the Claret Jug to his home.

Joshua said: “I walked into my room when I got home from football after school and saw the Claret Jug – it was just amazing.

“I checked all the names and saw all the golfers that I love.

“I got to hold the trophy which was amazing, because golf is my favourite sport.

“I was really excited. They brought one of the most famous trophies in golf to my room – it’s just crazy.”

Joshua, who plays for Ballumbie Castle Golf Club Juniors, has been swinging a club since he was two.

Andrew said: “We were just blown away by the response on Twitter.

“Joshua wanted his room to be more grown-up and wanted a golf-themed wall so he could hang up all his signed flags.

“We put up the Open graphic on his wall too.”

Laura praised the “kind gesture” from the R&A and uploaded a video of the moment Joshua walked in to find the Claret Jug in his bedroom.

Laura said: “We were a bit overwhelmed at the whole thing, especially Joshua.

“He is a big golf fan. It was an unbelievable experience.

“It’s quite unusual for a young boy to be so interested in golf – normally it’s football.

“As a parent, to see his response, it was just amazing. His face was priceless.”

An R&A spokesman said: ““One of our key priorities is to attract more children to attend the Open through our Kids go Free initiative, and we were really struck by Joshua’s passion for the championship. It was nice to be able to recognise that in a small way and hopefully it will inspire many more youngsters to come along and see the world’s best golfers in action.”

I was really excited. They brought one of the most famous trophies in golf to my room – it’s just crazy

Joshua Marshall, 11, was delighted when he came home to find the Claret Jug in his room.