Armstrong ready to set sail for Ireland

Jonathan Armstrong has returned to dry land for his first appearance in the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship Final.

The Cheshire professional spent four years on a cruise ship teaching golf and travelling the world.

But now he has joined Northwich’s Hartford Golf Club and is preparing for one of the biggest tournaments of his career so far.

And it involves him crossing the sea again as this year’s £78,000 grand final will be held at Luttrellstown Castle Golf & Country Club near Dublin between June 13-16.

Armstrong was the joint winner of the qualifying round at Delamere Forest Golf Club in May which saw him part of a five way tie at the top of the leaderboard.

And he says the trip to Ireland will be a far cry from his career on the ocean.

“It’s an achievement for me as it’s the first time I’ve ever played in the Titleist event,” said Armstrong.

“I’ve been working abroad for quite a few years. I left England in 2009, and I was then the head teaching professional at Taba Heights in Egypt which is five hours from Cairo.

“Then I did just short of four years teaching on cruise ships.

“We had a simulator on board and I did three world cruise so I was able to play in America and I played the most southern golf course in the world in Argentina.

“So I fitted my golf in around the trips. But I've probably only played about three actual events in six years, so this’ll be a bit of a challenge.

“My tournament experience is patchy to say the least, on the cruise ships I didn't play any.

“I’ve played four events since I came back, but I was pleased to qualify for Ireland with some very good players.”

Armstrong, who also speaks Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian, admitted it was his PGA qualifications that allowed him to take his skills across the world.

“Not many British pros do the cruise ships, I can think of maybe three,” said Armstrong who will also be joined by Hartford club mate Adam Powell in the final.

“It had good and bad points like any job, but I now have friends all over the world.

“I’m going to Perth, Australia, in October for a wedding. I’ll get a month’s membership at Royal Fremantle over there so I can practice.

“But without the PGA qualification I probably wouldn’t have been able to do that.

“I’ll always have the travel bug but now it’s time to try and settle down. But I would like to work in South American one day, but it’s a difficult place to get into.”

Other players from the North of England playing at Luttrellstown Castle include: Ryan O’Neill (Penwortham Golf Club); Garry Houston (Carden Park Golf Club); Craig Goodfellow (Carlisle Golf Centre); Adrian Hill (Pryors Hayes Golf Club); Grant Hamerton (Pike Fold Golf Club); Steve Parry (NW Golf Academy/Hart Common) and Stephen McNally (Wearside Golf Club).