TALENTED youngsters trying to make it on to the leading men’s and women’s golf tours need a Plan B, warns Jonathan Lupton, head PGA teaching professional at the Close House Golf Academy in Newcastle.

He’s also the performance golf coach for Northumbria University, coaching and mentoring 18 golfers who compete throughout the country with two of them gaining international recognition this year.

With the class of 2015 already honing their skills, the 35-year-old Lupton can speak from experience in terms of trying to make it to the big time and he’s almost evangelical about “full-time” young amateur golfers staying in education.

A former winner of the English and Welsh amateur strokeplay championships in the days when he represented his home club, Middlesbrough, he played in the same international team as Ryder Cup player Justin Rose.

He was three times a member of winning Yorkshire teams in the County Championship and, after turning pro, twice became PGA Assistants Champion.

Lupton was coached by the legendary Pete Cowen - and the list of players Cowen has guided includes Darren Clarke, Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood.

But, says Lupton, “as hard as I tried – and I gave it everything and then some - I just couldn’t get out on Tour even though I had all the tools. The pressure of not being able to afford to travel to events made it almost impossible to play to my potential.

“So yes, I would advise top young golfers to chase the dream by all means although you need a back-up plan because for the vast majority of top amateur players the dream does not become a reality.”

Northumbria University do not offer a golf specific course such as Birmingham and the PGA Foundation Degree. Northumbria students are on a variety of courses such as geography, sports science and business studies.

Ami Storey, a member of Close House, won the 2014 British Universities Championship during her time at Northumbria. Along with Andrew Wilson, from Darlington, Storey was picked to represent GB&I at the World Student Games in Switzerland.

“The uni players improve not simply by one simple swing thought but by committing their time to regular practice sessions and taking advice from the sport scientists on hand at the university,” said Lupton. “I must admit that before becoming involved in the programme I had no idea of the investment the university was making towards golf.”

• If you are a parent or guardian and would like details of what Northumbria University has to offer your golfing son or daughter for future years, email Colin Allen via colin.allen@northumbria.ac.uk

SOUTH MOOR are celebrating winning the County Mixed Foursomes Championship.

Wearside B were defeated by two holes in the final after South Moor had moved beyond Durham City, Heworth, Ravensworth, Consett and Hobson B in previous rounds.