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The Clubhouse: What Golf Means To Me

By James Clough March 07, 2023 6 comments

What Golf Means To Me

What Golf Means To Me

3rd March 2023 - James Clough

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Welcome to the first in a new series of articles titled 'What Golf Means To Me'. 

We'll be speaking to a variety of golfers. From members of the Stewart Golf team and Stewart Golf ambassadors, to reaching out to some of you, to find out why exactly we put ourselves through the ups and downs (and lefts and rights) of this sport they call golf. 


First up. Stewart Golf Production Manager, Ash Hunt.

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Name: Ash Hunt


Title: Stewart Golf Production Manager


Your Game In One Word: Beginner 


Handicap: 30


Home Course: Gloucester Golf Club

"Growing up I had this stereotypical view of golf, and I guess to some extent golfers. It was a game catered to those with a lot of money and in the later stages of their lives. I never felt like I would be welcomed into a golf community and therefore never really contemplated the possibility of taking up the sport. 


There was one other element to golf that didn't appeal to my younger self, the challenge. Or rather, what I thought was the lack of challenge. Hitting a ball around a field with a stick, how hard could it be? I'm a grass roots footballer, that competitive spirit is in my blood. I think I honestly thought that if I ever played golf that it might take a couple of practice holes before I got into the swing of things and then 'boom' I'd be the next Tiger Woods. Fair to say, I was well wide of the mark. 


My attitude began to change first when more and more of my family and friends began to take up the game. These weren't old men, they were my age, younger and from all walks of life. Had I got golf wrong? After starting work for Stewart Golf (some eight years ago now!) not only did I realise that I had got it all wrong, I found my interest in the game growing. However, I was still reluctant to start playing. Partly due to the time investment, but largely stubbornness. I am someone who very much dislikes trying new sports for the fear of having to go through the beginner stage. I'm one of those lucky people where, in general, I'm able to put my hand to most sports I try. As I was to find when I did finally get out on the course, golf it turns out was not one of these sports. 

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I've never experienced a more frustrating, infuriating game...and I'm hooked. After eight years of working for Stewart Golf I was finally convinced to pick up my first set of clubs in late 2022. I haven't put them down since. Now everyone I speak to regarding this beginner stage I find myself in, all the teething issues, the 'I can't do this' moments, they all say the same thing "yes, sounds like golf to me!". 


I've opened myself up to what I can honestly say is the most challenging sport I've ever thrown myself into. But those fleeting moments where you catch one just right, or a no-hope long putt actually drops, they're addictive and like any addict I want more and more of those moments.


There is also another factor to playing golf. Work. Being in the production environment at Stewart I know every minute detail of our trolleys. I didn't think I could learn more about them, or rather that there was anything to learn I didn't already know. What getting on the course with them and relying on them as part of my setup has taught me, is that I've massively under-appreciated what we offer golfers. 


I thought a push trolley would be my go to, I didn't want to be that guy who turned up with a nice electric trolley and shank one into the pond on the first. However, two rounds at my local course with a push trolley and I found I could barely walk by the end of the eighteenth. My course is extremely hilly - it shares a hill with a ski slope - and despite what I'd consider to be a good level of personal fitness, by the time I reached the turn most of my energy was going into my walking, rather than focussed on game. My scores were nothing to write home about before this, but I certainly noticed a decline as the rounds were heading to their conclusion. 

I've never experienced a more frustrating, infuriating game...and I'm hooked. After eight years of working for Stewart Golf I was finally convinced to pick up my first set of clubs in late 2022. I haven't put them down since. Now everyone I speak to regarding this beginner stage I find myself in, all the teething issues, the 'I can't do this' moments, they all say the same thing "yes, sounds like golf to me!". I've opened myself up to what I can honestly say is the most challenging sport I've ever thrown myself into. But those fleeting moments where you catch one just right, or a no-hope long putt actually drops, they're addictive and like any addict I want more and more of those moments.


There is also another factor to playing golf. Work. Being in the production environment at Stewart I know every minute detail of our trolleys. I didn't think I could learn more about them, or rather that there was anything to learn I didn't already know. What getting on the course with them and relying on them as part of my setup has taught me, is that I've massively under-appreciated what we offer golfers. I thought a push trolley would be my go to, I didn't want to be that guy who turned up with a nice electric trolley and shank one into the pond on the first. However, two rounds at my local course with a push trolley and I found I could barely walk by the end of the eighteenth. My course is extremely hilly - it shares a hill with a ski slope - and despite what I'd consider to be a good level of personal fitness, by the time I reached the turn most of my energy was going into my walking, rather than focussed on game. My scores were nothing to write home about before this, but I certainly noticed a decline as the rounds were heading to their conclusion. 

  • "After 8 years working at Stewart Golf, I was finally convinced to pick up my first set of clubs. I haven't put them down since"

"After 8 years working at Stewart Golf, I was finally convinced to pick up my first set of clubs. I haven't put them down since."

So, I accepted my fate. If I was serious about golf and trying to be the best I could be, I'd never push a trolley again. Now, I know, I'm extremely fortunate to be able to have access to a range of the very best equipment in the world of golf. There aren't many absolute novices that get that benefit, so I feel very lucky. 


Needless to say playing with the Q Follow was a completely different animal. In between my shots I find time to have a drink, replay in my head my latest mistake, or just have a chat with the people I'm playing with and forget everything else. This freedom can only really be appreciated once you have experienced the alternatives, I truly believe this is the best way to play, it's certainly given me an added level of pride to say I help make these. 


Six-months into my golfing journey and safe to say I'm a golfer. Between lessons, the driving range and my weekly game, a large percentage of my spare time is now either playing golf or thinking about golf. In equal measures I find it so gratifying, frustrating, relaxing, stressful, but ultimately rewarding and fun. 


I find it hard to put my finger on exactly what golf means to me, maybe the biggest appeal is knowing I'll never be perfect, that the quest to better myself is never ending in this sport. As such, I'm at the beginning of a never ending love affair. My current focus is on breaking 100, but that's just the start. I know I'll never be satisfied with my score, and that's actually a very satisfying thought. As I said, I'm not entirely sure what golf means to me, but I am sure glad I dropped my silly pre-conceptions and started playing. 

So, I accepted my fate. If I was serious about golf and trying to be the best I could be, I'd never push a trolley again. Now, I know, I'm extremely fortunate to be able to have access to a range of the very best equipment in the world of golf. There aren't many absolute novices that get that benefit, so I feel very lucky. 


Needless to say playing with the Q Follow was a completely different animal. In between my shots I find time to have a drink, replay in my head my latest mistake, or just have a chat with the people I'm playing with and forget everything else. This freedom can only really be appreciated once you have experienced the alternatives, I truly believe this is the best way to play, it's certainly given me an added level of pride to say I help make these. 


Six-months into my golfing journey and safe to say I'm a golfer. Between lessons, the driving range and my weekly game, a large percentage of my spare time is now either playing golf or thinking about golf. In equal measures I find it so gratifying, frustrating, relaxing, stressful, but ultimately rewarding and fun. 


I find it hard to put my finger on exactly what golf means to me, maybe the biggest appeal is knowing I'll never be perfect, that the quest to better myself is never ending in this sport. As such, I'm at the beginning of a never ending love affair. My current focus is on breaking 100, but that's just the start. I know I'll never be satisfied with my score, and that's actually a very satisfying thought. As I said, I'm not entirely sure what golf means to me, but I am sure glad I dropped my silly pre-conceptions and started playing. 





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6 comments


  • Great blog Ash and welcome to the world of golf! Can’t wait to see your progress to breaking 90!

    Isaac on

  • welcome to the addiction of golf ash. this is my 4th year of golf and I’m on the verge of getting into the teens on my HC. without this X10 follow i would still be in my high 20`s. i had a heart op 5 yrs a go and was told to be active as much as i could. so i took up golf and very much like you i got addicted to the game. i have had a number of trolleys in this time. i had a pull trolley to start with and that almost killed me lol. so i went with a push trolley and again i struggled like mad to do 18 holes. then i bought a electric power caddy. the caddy was ok but i still had to move it in the right direction which believe it or not i was still feeling tired at the end of 18 holes. then i bought this amazing peace of equipment called the X10 follow. this has made my golfing life so much better. i now play without the added struggle of getting around my local golf course. i can play like everyone else now and most of all keep up with them in scores without slowing them down. this trolley has loads of benefits to anyone’s game. its great and more to the point it has given me added years to play golf. a big thank you goes to all at stewart golf. keep up the good work.

    bri

    brian hindmarsh on

  • Good article Ash and absolutely love my Q-follow

    David Hubbard on

  • Great read, Ash, my golf journey started much the same way as yours. Played football all my life and found golf to be the perfect outlet for my competitive spirit once my body started failing me! Keep up the good work. Looking forward to the next article

    Martin Shaw on

  • Nice Read, welcome to the world of golf and yes the Q-follow does take it to another level.

    David Menegon on


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