Littlestone’s Arthur tees it up at IMG Academy Junior World Championship

Five-year-old golfer, Arthur Saunders, who plays at Littlestone Golf Club in southeast Kent, has earned a place in the IMG Academy Junior World Championship in San Diego in July after finishing second in the Boys six and Under division of the British Junior Golf Tour at Redbourn Golf Club.

It is a remarkable achievement for a boy who only started to play golf a couple of years ago when his father took him along to Littlestone where he himself was having golf lessons. This sparked an interest in the game and it was not long before Arthur was taking lessons himself under the watchful eye of Littlestone coach, Charlie Wilson. Now a junior member of Littlestone GC in his own right, Arthur has surpassed both his parents’ and coach’s expectations with the natural talent and dedication that he exudes for the game.

Wilson commented, “It’s not just Arthur’s natural talent that has led to his success but his absolute dedication and passion which all comes from him. The only time we’ve seen Arthur cry is when his mum comes to take him home! His etiquette and knowledge of golf is fantastic and we have never seen a youngster of his age with such maturity and commitment to the game. He really is quite extraordinary.”

Ken, Arthur’s dad, explained, “The fact that Littlestone welcomes juniors meant I could take Arthur with me when I went for lessons. It was evident from very early on that Arthur loved the game so we signed him up with Charlie and he has never looked back.

Friends and members of Littlestone Golf Club on Romney Marsh had only just announced the staging of a golf day in order to raise the £4,500 required to fund Arthur and his father’s trip when Virgin Atlantic generously stepped in and offered them free trans-Atlantic flights. Both Arthur and his father can now look forward to travelling to America in the summer.

The golf day at Littlestone, scheduled for 12 June and priced at just £50pp, will still go ahead to cover expenses such as accommodation and car hire for the Saunders whilst in America. Any excess money raised will go into a bursary pot for other juniors at Littlestone. To play or donate a prize please contact Sarah at Littlestone Golf Club at sarah@littlestonegolfclub.org.uk