I’ve still a fairway to go says Longcake
Last updated 15:39, Wednesday, 30 April 2008
County golf legend John Longcake has no plans to hang up his golf bag – even though he’s now helping to develop a new generation of golfers.
Longcake, who has clocked up more than 100 appearances for Cumbria since making his debut 25 years ago, admits he can’t wait for their opening game against Lancashire on Saturday week as he is enjoying being part of the county set-up more than ever.
And the 44-year-old Silloth on Solway player will have his own lucky mascot by his side when Cumbria attempt to land the Northern Counties League – his 15-year-old daughter Cathie.
Cathie is a promising golfer, who has already won her first junior competition and has represented the Cumbria women’s team.
She and her brother Andrew, 13, are both members of Carlisle, while their older sister Fiona, 19, is taking a break from golf as she is studying law at university.
Cathie will have the chance to learn from the best this summer as she will be caddying for her dad in matches against the cream of northern golfers.
Longcake said: “This is probably the strongest Cumbria team I’ve ever known so we’re very optimistic about our chances.
“We’ve been boosted by the arrival of Gary Wolstenholme and the rest of the team is getting better all the time.
“The players put in a lot of time and effort these days. In the old days, you would play a couple of times a week but now people practise much harder and we have coaching with the likes of Jimmy Latta and Steve Harrison. Other counties have moved forward and we have too.
“This won’t be my last year because the county set-up is better than ever. As long as I’m playing well and enjoying it, I’ll continue.”
The 2002 English Mid-Amateur Champion, who has won the Cumbria Strokeplay five times and the Matchplay title twice, learned plenty about county golf by caddying for his father, Bill.
Now he’s delighted the next generation of golfer is taking to the course.
Longcake, who plays off plus two, said: “Cathiey loves caddying for me, and that’s how I learned. You learn about golf courses, which is very important. When I caddied for my dad it meant I knew the courses before I played them.
“With the way the kids are progressing, I’ll be playing more in Cumbria and the North-east this year rather than national events.”
