SPOTLIGHT
FOXHILLS LOOKS BACK FOR THE FUTURE
Spotlight
Aspiring young golfers always require role models... Back in the day, Paul Casey and Anthony Wall – both multiple winners on the European Tour – took their formative steps at the historic Foxhills Club & Resort in Ottershaw.
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ith two championship golf courses – the Longcross and the Bernard Hunt – a fabulous nine-hole par-three course, a covered, floodlit driving range, coaching aids with state-of-the-art technology and short-game practice areas, the venue is set up for any youngster to make the most of their talent and potential. Under the watchful eyes of coaches who work extensively with county and national squads, all that’s left is for the golfer to show the kind of application and dedication that Casey and Wall have shown in carving out their illustrious careers. The Foxhills Foundation, established in 1986, has brought 300 golfers through its ranks as it enters its 32nd year. Among that list are – you guessed it – Casey and Wall.
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With added vigour and renewed focus on the programme, the class of 2018 were recently selected with 12 young talents joining the ranks. That life-changing opportunity is now there for them to become the best they can be. It is all in their hands. It may well produce a future champion or two – that is the ultimate ambition and finding champions does not happen by accident. But if the next best thing means steady progress and improvement to become good golfers who are passionate about the sport and are active members of the club in the future, it should still be regarded as a success. Alongside some generous support from the Foundation’s official equipment partner Srixon/Cleveland Golf, youngsters aged from 11-18 with varying degrees of ability join
the development, intermediate and advanced categories. There is a clear pathway with target-driven progress but it’s a two-way street. If any of the scholars are seen to be slacking or taking anything for granted, they will be politely shown the door. Free membership at Foxhills and its two stunning championship courses is surely enough for anyone to understand where their priorities lie. And the club’s other outstanding facilities should be able to help with the leisure side of things in those important moments of downtime. Foxhills’ investment in youth starts way before the Foundation too with the Junior FoxStars programme – aimed at encouraging new golfers from the age of five – which sees the participants undertake a 10-week course, starting at
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