Golf gives ex-footballer Luke his edge back again

Former professional footballer Luke Webb admits golf has given him a competitive edge again as he prepares for the regional final of the Lombard Trophy at Walton Heath.

Webb - son of ex-England international Neil - was a youth player with Arsenal before joining Hereford United where his career was cut short by injury.

But the 31-year-old will be hoping to secure a place at the competition’s Portugal final when he teams up with Bradfield College Golf Club’s PGA Professional Simon McGreal at the Surrey venue on July 17.

The Berkshire duo will be bidding to book a trip to the £41,450, Coca-Cola and Pestana Resorts supported, National Pro-Am grand final which will be played at the Vila Sol resort in the Algarve between September 20-21.

Five handicapper Webb is now director of football at Bradfield College but will swap sports for the day and says ex-PGA Tour player McGreal is the ideal playing partner.

“I had to retire from football duo to injury and I needed something to keep my competitive juices flowing, and golf doesn’t hurt your body as much,” he said.

“And at Bradfield we have a TrackMan machine, an indoor studio and a nine hole course, my aim is to try and get down to scratch.

“A week ago I had my first hole in one and finished one over par at Harleyford Golf Club where I’m also a member. So I’m on form and loving it at the moment!

“But I have to say that Simon is the best coach I’ve ever come across. He’s coached some of the top amateurs in the world in his time. He picks out bits you need to work on and puts it in language you can understand. His temperament is amazing, I’m surprised he doesn’t win more.

‘We work together a lot, particular with the psychology element of our respective sports. Bradfield won the National Schools Golf Trophy last year and for a while the college was both national football and golf champions.

“So we’re a cool duo going into this event.”

Webb says it was not his father who got him into golf, but his grandfather.

“He was also a footballer, he played for Reading, but he made me fall in love with the sport, and now, I’m not ashamed to say it, but I am obsessed with golf! I have the urge to be the best I can be at it.”

Webb combines his golf with football coaching.

“I have all my coaching badges, I have my A licence so I can coach anywhere in the world if I wanted,” he added.

“But my dream was to have somewhere where elite players didn’t have to leave school. Somewhere they could get their A levels too, that doesn’t exist in the UK, but Bradfield College have a boy who’s just signed for Burnley after learning his football here. That’s the first time in history that’s happened.”

Other teams from the South taking part at Walton Heath Golf Club include: Matthew Kirby/Richarrd Doherty (Bognor Regis Golf Club); Greg Haenen/Jack Howland (Pentland Golf); Paul Babbage/Tom Cleary (Farleigh Golf Club); Martin Daniels/Kevin Guillon (Gillingham Golf Club); Mark Treleaven/Marco Cassar (Hayling Golf Club); Chris Pearson/George Hussey (Kings Hill); and   Mattthew Paget/Nicxk Oldham (Royal Mid Surrey Golf Club).

For more information on the event at Walton Heath Golf Club, click here.