Dodd’s delight for his Culford class-toppers
27/09/2023
Lawrence Dodd and his fellow PGA professionals at Culford School have watched with great pride as their star pupils enjoyed a stunning 2023 season.
Dodd, who made a handful of starts on the European Tour, joined the Suffolk school in 2015 when he launched its golf programme.
There has since been significant investment in facilities and the programme has developed at pace, to the extent that more than 100 Culford pupils aged from 5 to 18 are now experiencing the sport.
The fast-track growth has resulted in Dodd’s fellow PGA professionals Charlie Sadler and Adam Trett also being employed by the school.
And the trio’s diligent work alongside strength and conditioning specialists has helped to nurture a clutch of the brightest talents in British golf.
This was highlighted throughout the latest summer in which Culford’s rising stars shone on the national stage.
High achiever Tyler Weaver, who completed his A-levels this year, won the Carris Trophy (English Boys Under-18 Open Championship) before being pipped in the English Amateur Championship.
Weaver also showed up well for the England men’s side in the Home Internationals in mid-August.
To get two players that have not only gone through performing well in the junior ranks of the game, they’ve gone into adult competition and performed at a high, high level – that’s massively satisfying.
- Lawrence Dodd - PGA Professional
In the same week, fellow Culford pupil Nellie Ong starred for the victorious England Under-18 girls’ team at Lindrick. The 17-year-old followed up with a tremendous individual display in the English Women’s Amateur Open Championship in which she was only edged out at the fourth hole of a play-off.
Dodd, 40, said: “Not that I’m trying to live through their success, but I’m so happy for them. That they’re experiencing the fruits of all their labour.
“And it does validate what we’re doing here. To get two players that have not only gone through performing well in the junior ranks of the game, they’ve gone into adult competition and performed at a high, high level – that’s massively satisfying.”
In other notable feats, ex-Culford schoolboy Max Weaver – Tyler’s elder brother – won the 2023 Welsh Amateur Championship. And from current pupils Harry Thomas got the call-up to the Welsh-Under 16s squad, while Alex Sparrow showed great potential in the English Women’s Amateur Open Championship, firing six birdies in her opening round.
They’re all feathers in the cap of the Culford golf programme and Dodd, Sadler and Trett are thrilled at how their students have stepped up at national level.
“I get asked all the time about them,” Dodd said about the Weaver boys, Ong and the rest of his high flyers. “I love talking about them – hopefully that comes across.”
There’s no doubting Dodd’s passion, nor the expertise of the team that he heads up. They are key factors in why Culford’s golf programme has become such a success story.
Photo caption: Lawrence Dodd (c) and fellow PGA professionals Charlie Sadler (l)) and Adam Trett (r), who deliver Culford School’s successful golf programme
- Categories:
- Regions and Counties
- East
- Suffolk
