Young golfer’s driving ambition takes him south
A LERWICK teenager is to become one of just 20 people to enrol in a prestigious golf school this year.
Sixteen year old Andrew Bain will get into the swing of things when he starts his studies at the Lee Westwood Golf School in Cheshire from 7 September.
The talented teen, who has just left the Anderson High School after completing his fifth year, will learn all about golf as he gets primed for a career in the sport.
Only 20 young golfers from across the world have been selected for the two year course, which will see Bain staying in a plush five-star hotel during term time.
The career move has been a long time coming for the Lerwick lad, who first picked up a club aged two.
He went on to meet his hero Lee Westwood at the 2008 Scottish Open in Loch Lomond, and has had a photo of himself meeting and the former world number one above his bed ever since. “It must be fate,” reckons his mum Alison.
While Westwood does not personally teach at the school, Bain is looking forward to a comprehensive education that ranges from golfing ability to nutrition and psychology.
“It’s getting an all-round understanding of golf,” he said.
“I think the course will give me the right platform to give me the chance to become a professional golfer.
“I guess the ultimate aim is to try to become a professional golfer. But if it doesn’t work out, then I would still like to find a career in golf, in a management or coaching sense.”
Bain built up his golfing skills over the years on the 18-hole Dale golf course – on which he has a handicap of six – as well as the Gulberwick driving range.
He says he will miss Shetland, which he describes as “one of the most beautiful places in the world”, but the poor weather and lack of facilities here are preventing him from reaching his full potential.
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The golfing season in Shetland often only lasts up to five months due to poor light, while the only other 18-hole course in the isles is on Whalsay.
Bain has already shown his class by winning the Kinross junior open last year and on Monday he came second in the Deeside junior open, which featured a total of 40 golfers.
So with the extra training he will receive in Cheshire, who knows what he will achieve.
“When I go down south I will be able to play and practise all year round in better weather with a wider amount of facilities for all areas of golf,” he said.
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