Kids get chance to grill ‘Beef’ at London Golf show

Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston is to be the guest of honour on the opening day of the London Golf Show, which takes place at Glow, Bluewater, in Kent, from August 26-28, 2016.

Johnston, 27, is inviting children aged under 16 to pose questions to him on the show stage as their first steps towards a potential career in golf reporting: “As a Londoner myself, I really appreciate what the London Golf Show brings to the people of the city and its surrounding areas. Golf is still perceived by some, mistakenly in my view, as an elite sport,” he said. “I come from a working-class background and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of working-class kids out there who could have an undeveloped talent for the sport.

“Those kids are unlikely to be able to visit Troon for the Open Championship, but they’d jump at the chance to swing a club here, on their doorstep. So, as a way of encouraging even more youngsters to take an interest in golf, I’m inviting kids to email me with their top three questions and the senders of the three best sets of questions will be invited to come on stage at the show on Friday and pose them to me.” The sets of three questions should be sent to askbeef@londongolfshow.com, where they will be judged by Johnston and the team behind the London Golf Show.

Johnston, who is based at North Middlesex Golf Club, has become a big cult favourite with golf fans. This year, he has matched that popularity with success on the course, winning April’s Real Club Valderrama Open de España, and finishing eighth in the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon.

In addition to a chance to meet ‘Beef’, visitors to the London Golf Show could win holidays to Bermuda and Sawgrass, plus a stunning Tesla car worth more than £60,000. Anybody attending the show will be in profit almost immediately, with every visitor able to claim at least nine free rounds of golf. Each of nine golf clubs – The Addington, Croydon; Bletchingly, Surrey; Chart Hills, Biddenden, Kent; Cherry Lodge, Biggin Hill; Farleigh GC, Selsdon, Surrey; Surrey National, near Coulsdon; Weald of Kent, in Headcorn; Westerham, Kent; and Woldingham, near Whyteleafe – will give a free green fee to every visitor to their stand, in a package worth at least £300.

The interactive stands include nearest-the-pin, long-drive and long-putt contests; free PGA tuition; a massive indoor driving range featuring the majority of golf’s best-known club brands; custom fitting; club testing; trick-shot displays; simulators; the latest golf gadgets; extensive retail; and the opportunity to win everything from a packet of tees to an exotic golf holiday.

The show will be hosted by Golf Juice presenter and YouTube sensation Crossfield, whose golf coaching videos have received more than 90 million views. He will be accompanied by fellow PGA professional Lockey, who also enjoys a substantial following on social media, where he’s better known as ‘Coach’ Lockey. The duo often work together to produce videos and will be reunited once more to entertain visitors at the show.

Launched in 2005, the London Golf Show is the UK’s longest-running consumer golf show and was designed to appeal to golfers – and potential golfers – of all ages and abilities. Tickets to the London Golf Show are free for accompanied under-16s, and also for lady golfers, until August 25. Entry will cost £15 on the door.

www.londongolfshow.com