AFTER being named as just the eighth player from Hampshire to have been selected for amateur golf’s equivalent to the Ryder Cup, Basingstoke’s Charlie Forster has spent the last few days getting grounded back in his comfort zone on the other side of the Atlantic.
With just over a week before the first shot is hit in the 50th Walker Cup when a strong United States team entertain Great Britain and Ireland at California’s world-class course Cypress Point, set against the backdrop of the spectacular Pacific coast, near Monterrey.
At the weekend, Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald saw the first six automatic qualifiers for Europe’s long-awaited clash with the USA at New York’s Bethpage Park, confirmed at the conclusion of the British Masters at Birmingham’s famous Ryder Cup venue at The Belfry.
Some 5,250 miles away, Charlie has been holed up on the south side of Los Angeles, having competed in the US Amateur, two weeks ago, when he was knocked out in the first round at San Francisco’s Olympic Club, which hosted the 2012 US Open.
Charlie, who completed his degree in consumer affairs, has been based at Virginia Country Club, the home of the Beach team.
He has been staying with college mates since the end of May when he played for the international team in the Arnold Palmer Cup – which featured the top US college players – after his playing and study commitments with Long Beach were also completed.
Forster, who became just the third Hampshire player to feature in Arnie’s legacy to college golf since the tournament was created in the 1990s, has also been using his university’s golf club as a base to train while still in the States.
The 2021 Hampshire Junior Champion said: “I cannot speak highly enough about how good the Virginia Country Club is. It is one of the most exclusive country clubs in southern California and the Long Beach players are very lucky to have access to such a course.”
The 6,505-yard par 71 course, which opened back in 1909, regularly hosts the Del Walker Intercollegiate Golf Classic – Long Beach’s annual home tournament.
Charlie said: “It’s good to be able to still come here and work on my game. Obviously I feel very comfortable here… I know all the staff and I can work on my game on my own if necessary, or hang out with my team-mates that are still around in the holidays.”
Forster was a later starter, only taking up golf seriously when he was 15, playing with dad Lance at Basingstoke Golf Club at Kempshott Park before a spell at North Hants rejoining his hometown club when he transferred to Long Beach from Southeast Louisiana University in 2022.
Charlie is now the ambassador for the remodelled Basingstoke GC, now based at the old Dummer Golf Club, across the M3 from the club’s original home.
He added: “Obviously the reason so many of the top UK players come to America to play golf is the strength of the college system – backed up by the best facilities full stop… and depending on which part of America you study in, the weather’s pretty good most of the time,” he laughed.
In the last three months, Charlie has crossed the Atlantic a couple of times to compete in the Amateur Championship at Sandwich, and the European Amateur in Sweden, in June.
He also represented England at the European Amateur Team Championships in Ireland, in July, when they beat the hosts to finish third, having finished second in the individual 36-hole qualifying event.
Forster’s international commitments this side of the pond finished with a second appearance for Great Britain and Ireland in the St Andrews Trophy, in late July. They regained the trophy they lost when Charlie made his debut against Europe last summer at Royal Porthcawl.
Europe’s 10th best ranked amateur teamed up with England’s Luke Poulter in the European Team Championship, and they were unbeaten when paired by Walker Cup captain Robertson during the GB&I’s 161/2-81/2 win over Europe in the St Andrews Trophy, in Madrid.
Charlie’s two victories for Long Beach earlier this year saw him win by six and four shots at Las Vegas and Wyoming respectively.
Now Charlie hopes to be GB&I captain Dean Robertson’s sharp-shooter at the iconic Cypress Point along Pebble Beach’s famous 17-mile drive when the 50th Walker Cup takes place on September 6 and 7. The match will be shown live on Sky.
Charlie Forster (right) after his win in Wyoming in the spring. Picture by LONG BEACH STATE