PCGA JUNIOR TOUR MAKES NEWS

by Andy Waple

Charlie Daughtrey achieved another of his ambitions last week when he clinched a US Kids Golf European Championship trophy at Gullane No2 for the second time.

After winning the category for eight-year-olds in 2009 he set himself a target of doing it again – and sure enough he snatched the prize for 13 year olds in a play-off.

It was a tremendous achievement for the youngster, winning the trophy against a strong international field.

Charlie, a Sheffield Union of Golf Club’s player, is one of a clutch of promising youngsters based at Rotherham Golf Club. He first lifted a club at the age of 18 months and now, as a member of the England U16 Boys’ squad, is going in the right direction to become a professional golfer.

Much of his success is down to the encouragement of his dad, Richard, and his coach Nick Huby, who has been teaching him since he was three.

Nick is a rare breed of coach. After a spell as assistant pro at Wheatley he joined the Peter Cowen Academy in Rotherham 14 years ago and has made junior coaching his niche.

As well as coaching the cream of junior elite players, he runs sessions for boys and girls aged 5-18, introducing them to the game.   

His ability to keep their attention has attracted admiring glances from the golfing world that regards him as one of the best junior coaches in the business.

He is also highly regarded by parents. Peter Eccles whose two sons have developed under Nick tuition said: “Nick has been coach to my sons for more than six years. He has developed them from kids who had never held clubs to one being a junior Yorkshire county player and the other a UK junior disabled champion. He understands more than anyone I have seen, how to get the best out of the kids. His style of teaching and the facilities and equipment at the Academy are first class. In my opinion he is the best junior coach around.”

Nick takes his coaching very seriously and sessions aim to see the kids progress to the best of their abilities - whether as top players or weekend golfers.

“Whatever their ability I want them all to enjoy themselves and have fun playing a great game,” said Nick.

The weekend and midweek coaching sessions are very well attended and his tournaments, known as the Peter Cowen Academy Mini Tour and Junior Tour are very popular.

The Mini Tours and Junior Tours came about to provide a competitive environment for juniors to play for good prizes on quality golf courses.

“Through the coaching at the range the kids were well prepared, had the dress rehearsals, but didn’t have a stage to perform on. I decided to put that right by setting up the tours,” said Nick.

The Mini Tour started in 2011 as a single event at Grange Park and has grown into a series of seven fixtures played over 9 holes from the front tees with parents encouraged to act as caddies.

Meanwhile the Junior Tour designed for elite juniors is played this year at prestige courses – Lindrick, Rotherham, Hallamshire and Forest Pines – with top Callaway prizes up for grabs.

* Greg Denton (Lindrick) was joint winner of the Yorkshire Boys' Amateur Championship held at Wheatley with a  score of 70.

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