At 52 years of age, Cameron Clark is preparing to play his first ever event in his hometown, 48 years after leaving it.
The Head Professional at Moor Hall Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield in England was born in Ballymena – his father was Head Professional at Ballymena Golf Club back then – before moving to England, but he’s always asserted that he’s an Irishman and that Ballymena is home.
“Yeah, I play under the Northern Irish flag and always have done,” Clark said. “I’m very proud about that. My mum was from Ireland originally and yeah, I’m very, very proud of my roots, and I never sort of swayed from that.”
When Clark secured his playing rights at Legends Tour Q-School, the NI Legends at Galgorm Castle, in his hometown, was naturally the event he was most looking forward to.
“Yeah, you know, it’s a great privilege to be here,” he said. “I’d never seen the golf course before, but it’s a beautiful course, and in fantastic condition.
“I don’t think we could wish for much more than what we’ve got this week.”
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Clarks first Q-School attempt saw him on the verge of qualification only for the final hole of the 72 to ruin his chances, but he made amends this time around and he believes that the experience of narrowly missing out only served to toughen his resolve.
“Yeah, you know, I just learned a lot from the first visit to tour school where I had a really poor finish and missed out, which was obviously disappointing,” he recalled. “But yeah, this year went back again and just felt somewhat more confident going into it I think because of the experience I’d had as well.
“It sort of almost toughened me up a little bit and yeah obviously delighted to get through and delighted to have the opportunity to play out here.”
After a shaky start to the campaign, he’s been trending in the right direction and a T15 finish at last week’s Staysure English Legends was his highest finish of the season and he’s looking to continue that upward trajectory this week.
“Yeah, I’d love to,” he smiled.”I keep setting myself sort of mini goals and, you know, the last two or three events have been much more positive after a relatively poor start.
“So, yeah, you’ve just got to try and do what you do and not try and get too swept away with the events themselves. Just play your game, come and prepare properly, and that’s just what I’m trying to do.”
And as one of the bigger hitters in the field, routinely able to carry the ball in the 300-yard range, he feels the golf course this week could suit his game nicely.
“Yeah, I love the golf course,” he enthusiastically declared. “I think it’s really good, and it’s definitely the greenest course we’ve played this year. It’s in beautiful condition, and I think it’ll probably be someone that carries it quite a long way in the air who wins this week because it’s playing quite soft.
“But yeah, all in all, I think it should suit me well. Now we’ve just got to go and play and see what happens.”
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