Robinson graduates to top of the class

Dec 18 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

LANCASHIRE teenager James Robinson has received an England call-up, a reward for a dazzling run of successes which this season brought him to the edge of the final in the English Amateur Championship.

The 19-year-old from Southport and Ainsdale made the headlines 12 months ago when he collected so many top awards at his club’s prize-giving evening someone had to help him carry them back to his seat.

They included the club championship, the lowest 72-hole gross in the Spring and Autumn Meetings, the scratch trophy, and the scratch matchplay for the second year in succession.

“Not bad in his first year at Southport and Ainsdale,” said his proud dad Lindsay, who taught his son during his early years in the game.

James attributes his success to a lot of hard work.

He said: “It does not come easily. Now I am really happy with my season.”

Not surprisingly, he has not repeated the club successes on that scale, although he did win the scratch matchplay again.

But he has not made as many club appearances as in 2006.

He has been busy beyond club events, playing for Lancashire and in the country’s leading tournaments.

He has finished his first full season playing for Lancashire unbeaten in the singles.

He entered for the South of England Strokeplay at Walton Heath and, the following week, the English Amateur.

He was disappointed with his performance in the South of England, a bit upset, a bit drained, he said.

But after a couple of days away from golf, he went on to reach the semi-finals of the English Amateur at Royal St George’s, Kent, where he went out to the eventual winner, the Yorkshire champion Daniel Willett.

His performance there, reinforced by others including his county form, have brought him to the attention of the England selectors and a place in the England under-21s squad, a boost for his ambitions for a future in the professional game.

“It was a surprise,” he said. “Yet from what I had heard I did think I had a chance. But to get selected for England is brilliant, a big honour. I think it was the good result in the English Amateur that clinched it.”

He has been for squad training with England. The sessions included talks about diet, fitness, psychology, lessons on the short game, putting and training. He has experienced some of this before with Lancashire, but said: “This was all at a higher quality, the best you can get. In four days you get so much information.”

He sits in the lounge at Southport and Ainsdale, one of the famous homes of English golf. Beyond there is the course, designed by James Braid (1870-1950) one of the greatest names in golf, the links where two Ryder Cups of the 1930s were played.

It is a perfect setting for a young player to dream of the future. Robinson drinks orange juice and talks of his introduction to England. His handicap is plus-two and obviously little in his game need changing.

He said: “For me this had been the next step up. They work with what you have but they are trying to give you that little bit more.

“They may suggest just a little tweak here and there. Next season I hope I will get the benefits. It has changed my life a bit.”

He considers his diet more seriously now.

He goes to the gym more often, working on his strength, flexibility, and stamina.

He says 36-hole competitions – and in a busy schedule next season he may have three in succession – is tiring both physically and mentally.

He is now among England’s brightest prospects.

But he did not even want to play golf as a youngster. He preferred to ride his bike with his pals around Billinge Hill.

But his father introduced him to golf when he was about 11 and he hit plastic golf balls in the back garden.

He went to the local driving range and also the nine-hole Douglas Valley course, not far from Bolton football ground.

He joined Gathurst when he was about 12 and his first handicap was 28.

He quit playing football, for Billinge, and he sold his two bicycles. Two years after joining the golf club he had a single-figure handicap.

He played for Lancashire Boys and graduated to the senior team. Unbeaten in the singles for Lancashire this season, he recalls also losing only one or two foursomes.

He played for the county in the “Bix Six” meeting this season, against the other northern counties, a high-pressure affair where every player’s score counts towards the county’s final total and a couple of bad cards can upset the team’s hopes.

He went to Myerscough College after school for a National Certificate in Golf Studies. Now he is working temporarily for one of the sponsors. Together with the support he receives from his parents, they ease the cost of playing in tournaments and make it possible for him to play.

It was a six-hour drive to play in the South of England and with the Amateur he was away from home for several days, with all the expense that involves. In the New Year he will concentrate on golf full-time.

In January he will again be going to Florida, this year with S&A colleague Scott Fitzgerald, to play and practice golf in the sunshine under a scheme arranged by Chubby Chandler, the manager who has such stars as Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Ernie Els on his books.

He plans to play more top tournaments next year, starting with the Spanish Amateur in February.

His programme for next season includes trying to qualify for the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July and the European Tour Qualifying School.

He does not like to concentrate on golf targets.

He said: “I do like to stay in the present. If things happen it might be in the middle of next year or in three years time.

“It will happen when the time it right. It is a matter of golf results and opportunities. But yes, I do think about the Walker Cup.

“I have had a good year and hopefully next year will be even better.

“I have made a few swing changes, the result of being with England and working with my coach (Adrian Fryer of Drive-Time, Warrington).

“This is where I want to be.

“I want to be Tiger Woods! I want to be the top.

“I hope to have a great season next year, get myself right up there. I cannot wait for next season to start.”