Ponteland prodigy loves to attack like Spaniard

Sep 4 2008 by Tim Taylor, The Journal

ONE of the most exciting young Northumberland golfers playing in The Champions is Richard Robson-Crosby, the 16-year-old son of the Ponteland club professional, Alan.

Robson-Crosby junior’s attacking style of play is inspired by Sergio Garcia, the world’s number one have-a-go golfer.

He’s the youngest club champion in the 81-year history of the Ponteland club and has also won the Northumberland Under-21 strokeplay championship at Longhirst Hall this season.

The captain of Newcastle Royal Grammar School’s golf team, Robson-Crosby said: “My father has been a big help. He’s kept me right.

“It’s not always been plain sailing. Sometimes in the past I have thought I don’t need coaching, but I do from time to time and he has given me some good pointers.” This year’s competitors can expect a smoother passage on the Priestman course following some bunching up on the tee at the par five fourth last year, which brought delays.

The groupings will tee off at 10-minute intervals and Slaley Hall’s golf courses and estates manager, Steve Cram has pinpointed the heart of the problem. Cram said: “I have employed a guy who permanently cuts rough so it is being kept at a better level. He is on top of it all the time so it does not start running away. The rough on both the Hunting Course and the Priestman Course is thick so it does not need to be long. So that should hopefully get them moving a bit down there.

“It’s a blind hole so you can’t see your tee shot and there are two tree copses either side so people get lost in there. So we shall make sure they are strimmed out and cut right to the boards.”