Callum Lavery
A NORTHSIDE schoolboy is heading to the birthplace of golf to represent Ireland in the US Kids Golf European Championships.
Maddox Meers (9), from Swords, only started playing golf 17 months ago but according to his father Gavin, he is already making strides in the sport. “I got bought golf lessons last Christmas, and he came along and was a lot better than me, even though he never hit a golf ball in his life or anything of the sort,” says Gavin. “He had his first competition a year ago in Northern Ireland, then he entered a series which was probably around 20 competitions and then he qualified for the European Championships. He’s got about 20 medals and trophies.”
Not only has Maddox qualified for the European competition but he also won the Robert Rock’s Mini Tour Under 10s recently and has represented his local club, Beaverstown, in Leinster under 16s competitions.
Gavin says Maddox is training hard for the upcoming event but he is in for tough competition in Scotland in May.
“Every night we’re out, he has trainers at the Carton House and the Golf Union of Ireland is there,” says Gavin.
“That is where his coaches are, and then for two hours every night we are practicing on every golf course we can find.
“It’s the best kids in Europe under nine years of age, so they’re coming from all over, from Switzerland etc… it’s a proper European tournament.
“There is only two boys in Ireland that have qualified for it, and one’s from the North. He is the only guy from the Republic of Ireland to qualify for the under nines.”
According to Gavin, Maddox is in for a tough competition considering all the other boys have been playing for five years and Maddox has only been playing for 12 months.”
The St Cronan’s National School pupil will be competing from May 26 to June 1. Regardless of the outcome, Maddox shows no signs of slowing down.
“He writes his aims and goals all over his walls,” adds Gavin.
“To him there is nothing else he’s going to be but a golfer but obviously reality will have to kick in at some point but he lives and breathes it at the moment. His aspiration is to go to America to college golf, that’s what he wants to do.”