RAF man aims to earn golfing wings

RAF officer and keen golfer Stuart McColl believes he has what it takes to fly into the final of Europe’s largest golf pro-am.

The 52-year-old, who is currently stationed at Blandford Garrison in Dorset, won his Ashley Wood Lombard Trophy club qualifying competition to secure a place to play alongside PGA Professional Jonathan Shimmons in the regional final at Parkstone on July 10.

That victory came just twelve months after he joined the club following his move from Lincolnshire to take up a posting close to the south-west coast.

The tournament, which has a total prize fund of £80,000, consists of 16 regional events with the winner securing a place in the grand final over Gleneagles’ King’s Course on September 2-3, just days before the Ryder Cup visits the same venue.

Yet McColl, who is originally from Staffordshire, said he will remain focused ahead of the regional event.

“It would obviously be great to get the chance to play in the final at Gleneagles,” he said.

“I’ve played at Celtic Manor and one or two other larger courses, but obviously to go to Gleneagles is many golfers’ dream.

“But I know what golf is like, and to win it has to be your day.

“I won the qualifying round by one shot even though the guy behind me was playing unbelievably well. It just happened to be my day and I got those little bits of luck that gave me the win.”

McColl, who plays off a handicap of nine, only took up golf 10 years ago when injuries prevented him from playing football with the RAF.

“I used to play a lot of football, but I got to a certain age and suddenly injuries were taking longer to heal and I was finding it harder and harder to play.

“So one of the lads from my squadron said he would take me down to the golf course, and at first I just thought ‘yeah right, you’re not going to get me doing that’.

“But I actually really enjoyed it and I’ve really got into it since. My handicap has come down from 22 into single figures, and now we’ve moved here our house actually overlooks the club, so I just had to go and join.”

Away from golf McColl is a keen hiker, and he has been delighted that his move to the south west has given him and his family plenty of chances to explore.

“In my profession we do travel a lot, and as a family we’ve been based all over the country – although mainly in London and Lincolnshire – and I’ve been on tours all over the world.

“Coming here has been a nice change, and there are some really great places to go out and enjoy.

“We particularly enjoy walking the Jurassic Coast, which is an amazing place to go out and spend some time, although places like Salisbury Cathedral are also amazing.”

Other golfers competing in the Parkstone regional final include former champion Martyn Thompson and Paul Rickards (a) (Parkstone), John Jacobs and Philip Barton (a) (Cumberwell Park), Ian Roper and Darrell Cook (a) (Corhampton), and Rob Edwards and Bruce Knowles (a) (Lee-on-the-Solent). 

The 52-year-old, who is currently stationed at Blandford Garrison in Dorset, won his Ashley Wood Lombard Trophy club qualifying competition to secure a place in the regional final at Parkstone on July 10.

That victory came just twelve months after he joined the club following his move from Lincolnshire to take up a posting close to the south-west coast.

The tournament, which has a total prize fund of £80,000, consists of 16 regional events with the winner of each invited to take part in the grand final over Gleneagles’ King’s Course on September 2-3, just days before the Ryder Cup visits the same venue.

Yet McColl said he will remain focused ahead of the regional event.

“It would obviously be great to get the chance to play in the final at Gleneagles,” he said.

“I’ve played at Celtic Manor and one or two other larger courses, but obviously to go to Gleneagles is many golfers’ dream.

“But I know what golf is like, and to win it has to be your day.

“I won the qualifying round by one shot even though the guy behind me was playing unbelievably well. It just happened to be my day and I got those little bits of luck that gave me the win.”

McColl, who plays off a handicap of nine, only took up golf 10 years ago when injuries prevented him from playing football with the RAF.

“I used to play a lot of football, but I got to a certain age and suddenly injuries were taking longer to heal and I was finding it harder and harder to play.

“So one of the lads from my squadron said he would take me down to the golf course, and at first I just thought ‘yeah right, you’re not going to get me doing that’.

“But I actually really enjoyed it and I’ve really got into it since. My handicap has come down from 22 into single figures, and now we’ve moved here our house actually overlooks the club, so I just had to go and join.

Away from golf McColl is a keen hiker, and he has been delighted that his move to the south west has given him and his family plenty of chances to explore.

“In my profession we do travel a lot, and as a family we’ve been based all over the country – although mainly in London and Lincolnshire – and I’ve been on tours all over the world.

“Coming here has been a nice change, and there are some really great places to go out and enjoy.

“We particularly enjoy walking the Jurassic Coast, which is an amazing place to go out and spend some time, although places like Salisbury Cathedral are also amazing.”

Other golfers competing in the Parkstone regional final include: John Jacobs and Philip Barton (a) (Cumberwell Park), Ian Roper and Darrell Cook (a) (Corhampton), Martyn Thompson and Paul Rickards (a) (Parkstone), and Rob Edwards and Bruce Knowles (a) (Lee-on-the-Solent).