„Am I on tomorrow’s starter list?”                         

That’s how I stood 1986 in front of the information board in my home club Golf Club Burg Overbach in Much, asking the members for my starting time. The members were happy to provide the “little one” with the information. Being the youngest participant in the “SONY Young Master 1986” , I was six years old, I had handicap 36, but whether I was on the starter list, I was not able to read.

My parents were tenants of the gastronomy at the Golfclub Burg Overbach in Much. They took care of the physical well-being of the members and I cavorted on the hilly 18–hole-course. The golf course and the bunkers were my home and the biggest play ground one could imagine.

For my class mates football was the finest game; for me the driver was always thereatest. I learned early on to occupy myself with the subtlety (sophistication) of this game. Golf is the only sport where all players compete with each other, regardless of age, gender or handicap. As the youngest, you are not only fighting with the ball, but also against the tricks of the older ones.

When I began to win my hole competitions against the older ones, their attitude towards me changed rapidly. I recollect with great fondness the club teams. In Much, I was accepted very quickly; through my continuous underplaying, I was an asset for my team and my putting was dreaded. We all had much fun playing golf which was the basis for some true friendships. In those days, quite a few “eights” used to play their skins until dusk. And when it grew too dark for putting, we put up candles round the greens.

Although golf is not a team game, I always enjoyed taking part in country contests, be it national or international. With the NRW association, I played three court records, which I remember well. The associated victories were duly celebrated with the whole team. I am still grateful for the support I received from the managing committee of the NRW Golf Association. As a member of the German Youth, Juniors and Senior National Team, I was able to gather a lot international experience, an experience which eased my start in the professional camp. The DGV (the German Golf Association) made it , amongst other tings, possible that I could prepare myself in the sports devision of the german military for the Golf World Trophy in Berlin in a perfect manner.

For the first time, the German Golf Association was the host of a ladies and gents World Championship. We all were under enormous pressure. We wanted to give our best performance in our home country. The big aim of the gents’team was to achieve a place amongst the Top 3. Sadly, we did not achieve this aim, but it was the best result a German team has ever reached at a world championship. After the World Championship 2000 in Berlin, I finished my career as amateur with the best handicap in Europe, of +6.

And so the stress began, as nothing is as it once used to be. Amateur golf and professional golf are two entirely different things, although it’s just about a little white ball! There is one thing, however, that has not changed in my life: I am more certain than ever that golf is my life.

I have the great fortune which only a very few have that   my job is also my favourite pastime.