My Passion With Chris Thomson

I SUPPOSE there was a certain inevitability about my passion as the son of a golf professional, grandson of a renowned amateur golfer and after being born and raised on a golf course for the first 17 years of my life.

Unsurprisingly, the sport has played a big part in my life and although I wasn’t particularly keen (or good) as a young teenager, I became more interested and a little more capable as the years went on.

My grandfather was a great inspiration, amateur champion of three counties, captain of Cambridge University, Walker Cup trialist and he could boast a fairly impressive ‘plus two’ handicap.

His enthusiasm and love of the game certainly rubbed off on me and I remember well the time he comfortably beat me using only a 7 iron – my 14 clubs and teenage naivety being no match for his skill it turned out.

My father was destined to go into golf.

Starting life as an assistant professional at Gleneagles, then moving to Norwich, Thrybergh and finally Ganton, where I spent my time learning the game.

Although supportive, my father never really saw me following in his footsteps, probably preferring me to get a ‘proper job’, although estate agency may not fall into this category in his eyes.

In any case, my ability at a younger age would certainly not have allowed me to go down the ‘professional golf’ route, although latterly a handicap of three has undoubtedly been achieved from good early teaching.

Currently, I am fortunate enough to be a member of two fine golf clubs: Lindrick and Ganton.

These courses make up two of the three Yorkshire Ryder Cup courses, Moortown being the third (and, coincidentally, where my father played as an amateur).

Of all the courses I have played, Ganton must be my favourite. Not only from a nostalgic point of view, but down to the overall excellence of a course that will challenge the finest of players, and be a memorable experience for any amateur golfer. In this stressful and pressurised world, Ganton is the one place I can truly ‘escape’.

I have been lucky to play in many countries around the world, including the normal holiday destinations such as Portugal, Spain and Ireland, but also in less well-known golfing countries such as France and Hong Kong. More recently work and family commitments have curbed the amount I play to around two or three times a month, but it remains a joy to walk the fairways, rain or shine.

Golf is a fine sport, a great way of meeting friends, travelling the world and giving yourself a new challenge each time you step on to the course. Probably one of the most enjoyable, frustrating, chastening, and satisfying ways to spend an afternoon.