We recently sat down with Aldeburgh member, Monty Scowsill who finished runner up in the Amateur Championship this year to discuss the experience and his future in golf…
Tell us about your experience at the Amateur Championship
The whole experience was just incredible. It was my third Amateur Championship, having previously played in 2019 at Portmarnock GC and 2020 at Royal Birkdale GC. The R&A run the event magnificently and it was a pleasure to be able to compete, let alone make the final! The best thing about the entire week was the support I received from back home. Aldeburgh secretary, David Wybar, was keeping everyone up to date on my progress and my mailbox was flooded with messages from so many members. The support was genuinely overwhelming, and I can’t thank everyone enough for that.
What were your initial expectations after entering?
I wasn’t in the best of form so I wasn’t expecting too much. I’d missed the cut by 1 at the Scottish Amateur Championship two weeks prior and despite making the cut at the prestigious St Andrews Links Championship the week before, I finished poorly in the final two rounds on the Old Course. I was also battling wrist injuries which have plagued me for years and at one point, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to play! My wrist was strapped all week and I was taking painkillers regularly. Despite this, I had a good week of preparation in Aberdeen leading up to the event and my short game in particular was really sharp. I had made the matchplay stages in 2020 but narrowly lost in the first round so initially I was just hoping to make it through the stroke play qualifying stages and try to win my first match.
You had your father Jeremy on the bag, how did you work together and is a caddy a fairly new experience for you?
Dad was brilliant. He’d caddied for me on occasions before but not with much success! This week was very different – his focus and encouragement was incredible and I couldn’t have done it without him. Contrary to popular belief, caddying is actually very difficult, but he rose to the occasion magnificently. My Mum was there all week too and made sure everything was sorted for me off the course after finishing those long days. I feel so lucky to have their support!
What have you learnt from the experience?
Never let people tell you that you can’t do something. Golf is such a mental game, and the right attitude can take you a long way. Under the circumstances, I was distraught not to win however the disappointment of losing has given me the determination and drive to kick on and achieve big things next year and beyond.
Having spoken to lots of people since the final, including Robert Macintyre who also finished runner-up in 2016, I’ve learned to accept what happened and move on quickly. I’m a robust individual and I’m only looking forwards. I’m feeling in a great place right now, both mentally and with my golf game. I can’t wait for the opportunities that lie ahead.
What are your plans for the future?
There are certain things I would like to achieve in the amateur game before I make the jump to the professional ranks. Next year, I’ve got my sights set on a big win and representing England at International level. The Walker Cup at St Andrews in 2023 is also something in the back of my mind! I’m under no illusion as to how tough it will be to make a career from golf. I certainly have a lot of improvements to make, however I strongly believe I have the tools necessary to be successful.
One of my favourite ever quotes that keeps me accountable every day is from David Goggins: “Don’t focus on what you think you deserve. Take aim at what you’re willing to earn. You want to be uncommon amongst uncommon people.”
What do you like about playing golf at Aldeburgh and how does it help for playing big events?
Aldeburgh is just fantastic. There are few golf courses in the UK that are kept in such immaculate condition all year round and this is incredibly helpful when trying to hone my game. As everyone knows, the golf course is incredibly tough. Each hole is highly demanding off the tee and into the greens with no ‘genuine’ birdie chances out there. This stands me in good stead for big amateur events as when the golf courses get tough, I normally excel.
Aldeburgh has certainly changed for the better in the 10 years that I’ve been a member. It’s great to see so many age groups enjoying our wonderful game and particularly see numerous junior golfers playing.
