Aidan - Junior Golfer

More winter grind @longhirstgolf getting used to his @callawaygolf Ai smoke driver and working on some changes with irons. Still cold 🥶 but always puting the effort in
💪💪👍👍

Cold up north in the UK but still putting in the winter work

2025 goal setting time. Aidan only has one this year - drop his handicap to between 10 and 12 from the 16.9 currently by the end of 2025. Everything else is a bonus. Will he do it wouldn't bet against him 💪💪👍👍

2025 first practise close house on yearling short course. 5 x balls each hole had to get at least 3 x pars out of the 5 balls to move on or play the hole again. Only had to replay one hole over the 9 💪💪👍👍

2024 was a bit love/hate with a fair few ups and downs. Lots learnt, opinions changed, beliefs challenged and opportunities removed but others have opened up. Let's see what 2025 has in store for Aidan's journey 💪💪

Apparently I can build golf clubs😎 old odyssey golf putter cleaned, pulled, re-shafted and fitted with golf pride pro only grip. All done as festive request for Aidan - skill unlocked 😂😂

Taking the new Christmas driver out for a hit. Callaway Ai Smoke as an upgrade from his SIM2.

Merry Christmas and have a great new year. Looking forward to seeing where Aidan's continued journey in golf takes us 👍👍

Winter grind continues at a bitterly cold and windy close house

Aidan created this to highlight dyslexia when at school. As a parent with dyslexia it made me really proud. It's difficult to read but then that's sometimes how the dyslexia mind work and for a 10 year to understand that 👍👍

Out practising in some what windy conditions (sound on 😂) longhirst golf. Tried to talk him out of it but wants to practise. So a bit of time on range then bunker work using tips from bryson dechambeau apparently 👍. Been a while since we have been in bunkers so good to get some work done in them. 💪💪

Great day at Close House with McLaren performance group then lesson with Simon afterwards. Lots learnt and lots of winter work to do

Aidan had a week off as away in France with school but got back yesterday and straight into the winter grind today with some good numbers on his speed sticks for a 10 year old 💪💪👍👍

Thank you he's worked really hard at it but still wants to get it better 😂

This time with a iron out in the sun - don't get much in the north east of England 😞😞

Wishing it was summer again. Going for it with his driver at the range earlier this year 💪💪

Yeah well worth a visit even if just to use the range and see the colt course which is a beast of course 💪💪

New course for Aidan next season at close house golf club. He's looking forward to the fresh challenges it will bring with his continuing development in the game

Totally agree and not much in that way in the UK. We pick what we can afford and it's a real balancing act with school and travel 😞 but also think there is a need to manage expectations with kids also as what happens when if the money runs out and how do you manage that. It's a tangled web

One day we might get there but it's the cost that is the issue from the UK. Even the Europeans in Scotland next year will cost upwards for £2000 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

Yeah its a big move if honest and a bit unfair as I think there should be incremental moves to 18 holes for juniors. But given that in junior league events up here Aidan has to play off the back tees (whites) regardless of his age it's not surprising that common sense would not prevail 😂😂

Yeah he was prob 18 months to 2 years old but still makes that same smile even at 10 when he hits a good shot 👍👍

Yeah but for a few events like us kids Europeans and trying to qualify for wee wonders and faldos ( then if through decide on one) we are primarily going to be local area only - he has sats next year and moving onto the next school so it's definitely a balancing act 😞😞😞

Throwback to where it all began. On a driving range Aidan started his love of the game. No matter where this journey goes, the obstacles we face and the influences (both + and -) we navigate it all comes down to this, a little boy smile 👍👍👍

Choosing our 2025 events and staying local generally ( outside of a few events) to reduce costs and travelling. Ping junior tour (north east events), new aced junior golf tour 👍👍

First time using speed sticks - not bad swing speeds for a 10 year old. Hoping for some gains as he goes through the training 💪💪

Nearest the pin comp on toptracer at longhirst. How did this not go in for Aidan - that's twice now 😞😞

The struggle is real. 2025 events released in the UK and now deciding -

➡️ what we can/can't afford.
➡️ Where we can/can't go

Aidan is not sponsored, everything comes from us, family or savings (many families the same 😞). It's hard and I share your pain if you're in the same process. 🤦‍♂️

It's not just golf, education is so important along with Aidan learning how to become a great person who treats people correctly and with respect. As a parent it's great to see this from his school 👍👍

Great session at archerfields up in Scotland today. Working on course management, reduced his @trackmangolf.bsky.social handicap and beat his coach over 18 holes 👍👍