The 122nd Amateur Championship

A really special week for me as a little feller I started off some 13 years ago here at East Horton became the Amateur champion. Harry, his mum Tracy and dad Murray were members and it was his grandfather that said to me you must see my grandson hit the ball, I had heard it a hundred times before but Harry was different, his ball striking for a kid was freakish, all I did at first was the fundamental's and make it fun.

Then the time came to let him go, he had to play competitive junior golf so he plumped for Meon Valley and at 16 he became the youngest winner of the English amateur championship. 

Then disaster stuck as Harry's beautiful mum was taken by cancer. Tracy's dying wish was for Harry to take a golf scholarship to a university in Florida, after a very had few years and a dip in form the boy is now a man. Harry has now beefed up and ticking lick a Swiss watch. The brutal truth is that Tracy's death has driven Harry to succeed and given him that extra mental strength. 

The final against Australian Dylan Perry looked all but over with Harry 4 down on the back nine in the 36 hole final but as I refreshed the computer every few minutes, 4 became 3, then 2, then one and then all square which meant sudden death. 

On the 38th hole, Harry became at the age of 21 the youngest Amateur champion ever! As he celebrated I had a walk round the car park, it must have been hay fever as my eyes were watering a bit. 

Doors now fling open, a start in the The Open Championship, next year's US Open and The Masters. He did send me a short but perfect message, it just said " we dreamed of this " so keep an eye open for the boy as he might just make the cut and win that silver medal.


 

Marwell Par 3 Championship 

This week we have two competitions, you have time to play them both on the same day as we have re-introduced the Marwell par 3 championship. You play the Par 3 twice to make up 18 holes, and you can play on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday. 

No handicaps and its open to Men and Ladies and you must play from the mats.