2 minute read

Harry’s Gol ng awards

HARRY FLAGS UP A GOLFING FUTURE

Iain Ferguson Nine-year-old Harry Stewart is following in his parent’s sporting footsteps (or swings) by winning several top national junior golfing competitions, earning him a clutch of trophies.

Advertisement

Harry’s parents Amy and John both have impressive sporting records, with Mum representing Scotland in Badminton up to U17 level and shinty playing Dad turning out for Scotland three times in U21 and nine times in the senior team. The youngster, too, has been swinging a shinty stick since he could walk and golf club since he was four, starting out by hitting balls in the garden.

As John is also a keen golfer, young Harry would join him on Fort William Golf Course, always being keen to hit the ball as far as he could. This was encouraged by visits to driving ranges in Glasgow and Inverness, where he really enjoyed hitting the ball further and further as he grew older and stronger.

He would also join his Dad on golf outings for three or four holes, but being young would get bored with the walking, so ended up practicing chipping and putting around the greens, all of which set him in very good stead for his future competitions. Also a keen shinty player and footballer, when Covid restricted these activities golf became his ‘go-to’ sport, playing more and building his skill level. An added bonus for John was that he was

able to spend more time with his son as they played together.

John said: “Fort William Golf Club allow kids to play with their parents for free if they are a member, which is great, but unfortunately it doesn’t have a junior section for Harry to play with or against other kids. We’d been looking at other options to get him playing with a similar age and found Junior Golf Scotland website in Jan 2021, signing him up for the tour flag events which were due to start in April 2021, with events all over Scotland throughout the summer”. Flag golf is for children without handicaps playing on shortened par 3 length holes averaging 150 yards in length. They are allocated 36 shots, provided with a small flag and after their last shot on the 9-hole course they push their flag into the ground. The furthest around the course is the winner. Family members are allowed to walk round / caddy in a very relaxed atmosphere and good environment while playing fantastic courses at Gleneagles, Spey Valley, Crail, Ranfurly Castle, Mar Hall, Hilton Park, Carradale, Machrihanish, Scotscraig, Tulliallan and Carnoustie.

Harry won flag events at Ranfurly Castle, Carradale/ Machrihanish and Carnoustie, and also picked up the overall season tour champion trophy at Carnoustie by one shot. On the final day Harry completed the 9-hole course in 34 shots, saving his season’s best score for the right time with some fantastic golf, his highlight being a birdie two on the 5th hole.

Harry’s good luck snack seems to be a packet of custard creams that are always to be found in his golf bag.

This article is from: