Lee Westwood - Junior Days
It's a well known story that Lee took up golfing at thirteen years of age, when during the school holidays he became bored with his Dad's favourite pastime....fishing! So with a half set of clubs, he and his Dad took up golf. By 1988, Lee was Under 15 Golf Foundation Champion, the first of many achievements in his amateur career.
When Lee left school he attended a course on the leisure industry but decided it wasn't for him. His Dad said if he got at least 5 GCE O'levels (he actually got ten) he could play as an Amateur for two years. When he was seventeen he decided to apply to a few colleges in the US and was offered a scholarship in Augusta, but decided to turn it down as he felt that his golf would improve quicker by playing with lots of good players.
Lee remembers that at fifteen years old he played off three and by the time he was sixteen was down to two. However, by the time he played for the English Boys Team, he was down to scratch.
Some of Lee's younger fans have told us of their achievements...
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 LAUREN'S STORY
Lauren Oleksik first wrote to us when she was 11 year's old, "I have been playing golf for 3 years. I am a member of Wolstanton Golf Club in Staffordshire.
I was invited to join the Staffs Junior Girls at the beginning of this year and I have played some of the top golf courses in the Midlands. I have won some competitions and lost a few.
In August this year I played at Greetham Valley Golf Course in Rutland in the Midlands Girls' Challenge, and unbeknown to me some members of the National Training Committee were there. In September 2002 (1 week before my 11th birthday) I was invited to join the England U13's Junior Squad - the Birdie Squad.There are only 4 girls that play at Wolstanton Golf Club including myself and I was the only girl to be picked from my Club.
I have been told by Andy Dunbar, the England Girls Coach that I have the potential to go all the way to the top, and that is where I intend to go". Since emailing us in November 2002, Lauren has been given the National Uniform of navy blue trousers, white shirt and pink sweater and has been selected for the County Girls Squad receiving the yellow County sweater".
Update - September 2004
Now 13, Lauren's handicap is 16. She still plays for her County, and she has National Coaching with Andy Dunbar at Stratford Oaks Golf Club in Warwickshire. Andy is also Lauren's own coach. She played in the English Girls' U13's this year at Harrogate and played really well, getting through to Flight 1 of the Championships. She plays for her school, St John Fisher High School in Newcastle-under-Lyme, she and 2 others (both boys) won the Sentinel Cup at the beginning of the season. She has played well this season cutting her handicap from 21 to 16 and aims to play even better next year.
Update September 2005
Lauren's Mum says Lauren is now a member at Astbury Golf Club in Cheshire, she is the only female but this does not deter her from competing. Now aged 14, her handicap is at present, 14. She still plays for her County of Staffordshire and plays for her School, St John Fisher High School, in Newcastle under Lyme. She is playing well and hopes to end the season with a lower handicap.
Update April 2007
Lauren started this season quite well, winning at Wolstanton and slightly reducing her handicap at Astbury. She won every match for the Ladies Team, and won her first match for the Cheshire Girls. She also won best nett at the Staffordshire Schools Inter-Counties match on Friday 13th April.Lauren's handicap currently stands at 8.7, and she has been invited to play for Cheshire County Ladies B Team. By August she reduced her handicap to 7.
Sadly, she didn't finish the season as she injured her back and her handicap ended on 8. A Physiotherapist sorted her back problem, and said she would be back with a vengenance in the 2008 season.
October 2008
Lauren is 17 now, she passed her exams with 6As, 5Bs and 2 A*s and is now at Sixth Form studying her A levels.
After she injured her back she hardly picked up a club as it caused too much pain, after seeing 2 Sports Physios' ,GP, and consultants, she's had an MRI scan and other tests, they came back clear. We now know what the problem is, she is HyperMobile, double jointed, all her joints are far too relaxed, the slightest injury sets her back 12months to heal. She has bruised a inner core muscle which hasn't healed.
The really good news is that after being with an NHS Physio and some excercises she will be able to play golf again, they are hoping for next season, fingers crossed.
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Lauren now 15. Her Mum says she has changed completely so she sent us a new photo. This one is of Lauren with the trophy is at Astbury Golf Club, she won it in 2006. She is still a member of Astbury Golf Club and plays in the Ladies A team and as a junior member, she is also a member of Cheshire Junior Girls and plays for the B Squad. She had a lot of injuries last season so she didn't play much, but when she did play she played brilliantly. She won various local competitions and cut her handicap from 14 to 10. Her handicap currently stands at 9.
REGINA HENDERSON wrote.... Hi! I'm on the Perry Meridian High School girl's golf team in Indidanapolis, Indiana, U.S. This year we got new coaches and had the best season yet! Our record ended up 10-2, smashing 5-6 record from last year. We ended up 5th out of 13 teams in the County tournament and 2nd in the Conference Indiana tournament. Unfortunately we didn't score very well at Sectionals, but we couldn't be happier with the success that we had this year!
My name is JAMIE McDONALD. I am 14 years old and play off a handicap of 6.5. My junior organiser is Nick Bone.I am a member of Kendal Golf Club. It is a nice course and can pose some dificult shots to be hit with the weather being so unpredictable .
Our junior team have done well this year and we were unbeaten in the league. I have had a good year this year winning the County u14 Championship and qualifing for the Andalucian Junior Open . Also I have won quite a few of the competitions throughout the year, only losing one of my 9 games for my club !!
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SEPTEMBER 2006
I am 10 years old and play off 24.1 at Birchall Golf Club. My Junior Organiser is Peter Cordon. I have played for Leek team this year with an unbeaten record, I have also won two competitions this year despite being moved to the back tees for the first time, having played off yellows last year.
I played in the Astbury Golf Club 36 hole Junior Open, winning the lowest Net in the morning -18 - with a level round. I also posted an 85 gross at Barlaston Open this year. I have two Huxley golf greens at home 24ft x 16ft and one 12 x 12 sloping for short game practice.
I have a very late hit, which is very very similar to yours! I would like a chance to benefit from some professional coaching and if possible enter one of your competitions.
UPDATE OCTOBER 2008
"Liam entered the Staffordshire Boys Championships at Sandwell Park again this year and despite being one of the youngest competitors again he played well enough for us to get a 10.00pm phone call from the Under 14s Staffordshire Coach offering him a place in the team playing three days later. So another day off work for Dad and off we went to Broughton Heath Golf club in Derby for the four counties U14s event, kitted out with his new Staffordshire pullover he played a very impressive 36 holes, from the feedback Liam received he is hoping to be a permanent fixture in the Staffordshire Team".
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My name is Liam Hancock.
Liam is now 12 years old, his handicap is down to 13.1 following the Men's June Medal at Leek Birchall shooting an 83 gross which won him the competition with a 67 net", says Liam's Dad. "He also broke 80 last year for the first time aged 11 years. He plays for the Leek juniors team and remains unbeaten in three seasons in every singles match, he did have a very close call last week winning only 1 up against a 17 year old playing off 5".
BOB BROWN of Llandrindod Wells Golf Club says...Last year our team won the Brecon & Radnor matchplay league and came tie 3rd in the all Wales Final. The winners of that went to Portugal. Also last year we played in the Quad league, with four teams of 8 with 6 scores to count, and we came joint first, playing at each clubs home course. We have the lowest overall handicaps in both the leagues, and 4 of our players have been in Welsh Squads. We are coached by Phil Davies, the club professional.
LEE'S AMATEUR DAYS... (World Amateur Golf Ranking is on line - click here)
CLIVE GREAVES of Littlestone, Kent says, " I met Lee in 1992 when he was a leading amateur and I was Secretary at Royal Cinque Ports GC, Deal , Kent. Lee won our tournament that year and on the following day won at Royal St. Georges. I was very impressed by the way he handled himself. He spoke well at the prize ceremonies and unlike some of his fellow competitors obeyed, without any fuss, the requirements of both clubs by putting on jacket and tie when in the club house. He struck me as an example to other young golfers. I have followed his career since that time".