BUDE’S biggest golfing star, Georgia Price, is taking her time before deciding whether to turn professional.

The 22-year-old has had a stellar first full season in the UK, winning the Cornwall Amateur Ladies’ Golf Championship at the first attempt back in April, finishing second in a number of national events including the English Women’s Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Bristol and Clifton, and is currently second in the England Golf Ladies Order of Merit.

However it has only been since May 2015 that she’s lived permanently in Bude. As a nine-year-old, Georgia’s parents moved her from her home in Winchester, Hampshire, out to Fort Myers in Florida where she lived for over a decade.

At the age of 11, she picked up her first golf club at her local school at an after college golf class.

Before long she realised she had a special talent, and started working with her first coach Mike Spurr, who helped her up to the age of 16.

It was at that age where she picked up her first big title, the Henky-Berg Junior Masters, which put her on the local television station, Wink News.

Recalling that moment, Georgia said: “It was a summer tournament which is quite prestigious out there.

“The local TV station was at the tournament and they asked me a few questions. At the time I was quite nervous but looking back that’s what gave me the confidence and drive to become as good at golf as I can possibly be.”

Georgia has always had a soft spot for Bude, her grandparents live in the seaside town, and she made regular visits there throughout her childhood.

At the age of 17, before she decided to go to Florida Gulf Coast University to study Communication and Interdisciplinary studies, she joined Bude and North Cornwall Golf Club so that she could play whenever she was around.

And despite going to university, Georgia knew all along that it was golf that was her real passion.

However the university were firm in their stance on academic performance if she was going to prosper on the course.

Recalling trying to strike the balance between the two, Georgia said: “It wasn’t hard to juggle. The university made us work hard to achieve a certain grade else we weren’t allowed to play in the tournaments so there was never any danger of golf taking over to much at that stage.”

While opportunities in golf over here are limited, in Florida the chances to play are endless.

She said: “Over there golf is played all year round. There are so many opportunities for people. I used to play in local tours and nearly every university had a golf team so we always got to play and improve.”

Georgia did well at university, graduating with the American equivalent of a 2:1, however last May she decided to join her parents in moving back to the UK full-time, this time in Bude.

Since then she’s combined her aspiring golfing career with working at the golf club, as a waitress or behind the bar.

During the 2015 season she played a few events but this year has seen her start to gain the results she knew she was capable of.

She is currently sat second in the England Golf Ladies’ rankings, on 78666.633 points, 1294.617 points behind leader Sophie Lamb.

As part of amateur golf in England, rules state that players aren’t allowed to win prize money so instead are given vouchers worth a certain amount of money.

However the love of the game, and for some, the desire to turn professional is what keeps them going.

Thankfully for Georgia, she has enjoyed plenty of excellent weekends, none more so than magical performance at Trevose Golf Club back in April when she claimed the Cornwall Ladies’ Amateur Golf Championship.

Firstly, in the 36-hole qualifier, she finished eight shots ahead of second placed of Emily Wilson.

Once the knockouts started she proved to be in irresistible form, beating Cath Hopkins 8&7 in the quarter-finals, Abbi Maude 6&4 in the semi-finals before crushing 16-year-old Wilson 8&6 in the 36-hole final.

Recalling the tournament, Georgia admitted that once she got on a roll she felt almost unbeatable.

Georgia said: “It was the first year I’d played in it because of being at university when the tournament is held.

“I played really well right throughout the competition. Because we played on the course so often in such a short space of time I really got used to the course and the conditions and my confidence just seemed to soar. I knew that if I played like I had been then I’d do well in the final and thankfully I did.”

Much of her success in 2016 has come down to a change in her swing. Last year while she was still living in America, she started working with St Enodoc’s professional, Anthony Nash when she visited the UK.

And over the last few months, the changes have really paid off, and Georgia is keen to praise her mentor.

She said: “It has worked out really well since I started working with Anthony. He’s taken me to the next level. What I really like about him is the fact that he keeps it extremely simple which is what I need and it is working so long may it continue.”

Following her exploits at Trevose, Georgia continued to plug away before the next big tournament the English Women’s Strokeplay Championship at Bristol and Clifton Golf Club in the middle of August.

There she put in the round of her career before having the crown snatched away by her namesake Emily Price.

Her second-round eight-under par 65 put her in a great position, two shots ahead of Emily.

The morning round saw Emily Whittle down Georgia’s advantage to just one, before Georgia endured a nightmare on the back nine as Emily ended up winning by two shots.

On the tournament, Georgia said: “Last year I didn’t even make the cut here so the way I performed there overall was I really happy with.

“I managed to shoot the round of my life and if someone said to me at the start of that week that I’d be three-under I’d have taken it as I knew that would put me in contention. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be that week but it gave me plenty of confidence.”

At the beginning of September she came third in the British Amateur Strokeplay Championship in Belfast, second in the Liphook Scratch tournament before coming agonisingly close to winning the inaugural English Women’s County Champions of Champions tournament at the home of England Golf at Woodhall Spa.

She finished tied for second after Lancashire’s Catherine Roberts buried a 25ft putt for par to win by one shot after Georgia slotted home a birdie.

This week she takes part in the WPGA International Challenge at Stoke by Nayland Golf Club near Colchester in Essex.

The event sees the leading 15 players from the Ladies Order of Merit tee off alongside 15 Ladies’ European Tour hopefuls, and is an important bridge between the amateur and professional game.

Once the tournament finishes she will take a well deserved break ahead of next season which restarts in March.

Looking forward to 2017, Georgia has a couple of clear goals in mind.

She said: “Over the course of the winter, I still need to work on my short game a little bit and also my shot shaping to create the angles I need to get the ball exactly where I want it to go.

“I definitely want to win a national event before to long. I’ve been so close now on a number of occasions and I’m very hopeful it’s going to happen very soon. I feel like I’m playing really well and my putting at the moment is excellent and that’s the most important part of the game. If you can’t finish then you’re not going to win.

“My other goal is to play for England. I’m doing well in the rankings and winning a big national event will hopefully put me in contention.”

Despite her upturn in fortunes she is also extremely pleased with the support Bude and North Cornwall Golf Club have given her.

“Bude have also been great with me. They’ve given me a job which allows me to be very flexible with my hours which allows me to play as many tournaments as I can. Also the members are so friendly and take a keen interest in what I’m doing which is great.”

While it’s clear to see her golf is the main driving force in her life at the moment, she still has plenty of time for her family and things away from golf.

Her dad has always played the game and Georgia believes that she is living out his dream.

She said: “My dad has always played golf and mum and dad love coming to as many competitions as they can.

“If it wasn’t for them I’d struggle to make as many tournaments as I do because of where I live. A lot of the tournaments are a long way from Bude so it’s important that I make it as worthwhile as I can and they give me such great support, as does my sister.

“However I don’t play golf seven days a week. It’s important to have time to do your own thing and clear your head so that when you are on the golf course and you are fresh and ready to play as well as you can.”

If Georgia continues to play as well as she is at the moment, those elusive national titles will surely be coming back to Bude in the not so distant future, and who knows, she may make it right to the very top.