Bob MacIntyre made time to visit Oban High School this afternoon, Friday December 8, giving Oban’s youngsters an insight into his life as a professional golfer and his journey up to this point.
The Oban native answered questions and poised in photographs with schoolchildren who heard about his sporting heroics, which included winning the Ryder Cup with Team Europe earlier this year.
The 27-year-old paid a visit to the town’s primary schools on Friday morning, opening Park Primary School’s new playground obstacle course, before arriving at his former secondary school.
He was introduced by Oban High School’s headteacher Peter Bain in the school’s packed out assembly hall, before taking questions from pupils and teachers.
They were joined by Oban’s Argyll & Bute councillors, the Lord Provost Maurice Corry and MacIntyre’s shinty coach and greenkeeper father, who was sitting in the front row.
Curious pupils asked him about his shinty career, pre-game preparation, favourite golf club, injuries and even his favourite football team, with the golfer sensibly sticking to those in the English Premiership.
Asked questions about how he got into golf and when he started competing, MacIntyre explained that he had grown up next door to Glencruitten Golf Club and that his father was the greenkeeper there.
“It (a golf club) was pretty much put in my hands when I could walk,” he said.
“I’ve probably been playing golf since I was seven to years old, but nationally I probably started playing at 11 to 12 years old within Scotland and it grew from there, and went international when I was probably 15 to 16 years old.”
“I then realised when I was about 14 that I was decent at golf and I got supported by the right people, mainly my family.
“We had a bit of funding from a few folk because like the majority of you guys, when you’re working class you can’t make things happen without funding and support. I was lucky enough that I got that.”
His advice for aspiring sports players also showed the journey he had been on since starting out on the hilly course at Glencruitten.
MacIntyre said: “One of my biggest things is sacrifice and I remember turning 18 years old. I didn’t have a job and my mates were inviting me on nights out all the time. I was sacrificing everything.
“It’s so hard to make it in sport and it’s so easy to get led astray. If you want something bad enough you’ve got to know you can sacrifice because you’re chasing something bigger than just having a carry on with some mates.”
One of the tougher questions came from near the back of the room when a pupil asked whether he preferred golf or shinty.
“For the enjoyment side of it it’s 100 per cent shinty, but unfortunately I can’t do it everyday of my life. Shinty was kind off my first love and as long as I can play it I’ll keep doing that.”
Returning to golf and one teacher asked the Ryder Cup winner about the rules for new golf balls, which means they potentially won’t go as far.
“I think it’s only good for golf because it takes us five and a bit hours to play golf tournaments a lot of the time,” he responded.
“That’s far too long. It should only take 3.5-4 hours and you can only walk around a 7,500 yards golf course in a certain length of time. If the balls go shorter then it’s shorter courses, which means less walking time I guess.”
There was also of course a question about MacIntyre’s exhilarating performance at the Ryder Cup and about how it felt for him to represent Scotland in Rome.
He explained: “It’s the reason I play golf and that I chase my dreams day in and day out. When I had the chance I did absolutely everything that I could to get there.
“It was a dream come true and as a kid I dreamed of playing in certain golf tournaments and that was one.”
This visit was a special occasion for the secondary school pupils, with MacIntyre’s openness in answering questions making it a valuable session for the youngsters, who might just dare to dream.
Pupils also found out that his favourite course was Augusta, “which was the most spectacular place I’ve ever been”, and that he would most like to win The Masters.
MacIntyre also revealed that the singer Niall Horan’s golfing game was below par and that he was a Manchester United supporter.
On how growing up in affects a sportsperson’s journey, MacIntyre said: “One thing I really want to do for the (Argyll) area is give people opportunities. I’m a big believer that this area doesn’t get the support or recognition that it needs for people to chase their dreams.”
In his introduction, Mr Bain had said: “The number of competitions Bob has been clocking up – winning not just individual trophies, but as part of the Ryder Cup winning team is fantastic, spectacular.
“One that we as members of the Oban and Argyll community should be immensely proud of. That one of our own is having such international success on behalf of us and Scotland.
“I remember Bob as a pupil, but equally I remember playing football with Bob when he was a young adult as well.
“He’s friendly and he wishes to do well not just for himself, but for our community. It’s his character and his commitment to us that I think is equally, if not more important than his sporting success.”
MacIntyre is also set to receive recognition from Argyll & Bute Council for his recent achievements, with a motion passed to grant him the Freedom of Argyll at a meeting of the local authority on November 23.
Provost of Argyll and Bute, Councillor Maurice Corry, who hosted a civic reception in the afternoon, said: “It was a pleasure for us to welcome Robert today. He has achieved much already in his short golfing career – two wins on the European Tour, top ten finishes at the Open Championship and a top 15 in his first appearance in the US Masters.
“This year he made his first Ryder Cup appearance and went undefeated, winning two and a half points in a thrilling European victory as they reclaimed the cup.
‘’It was on the back of this fabulous performance for Team Europe that the council decided to hold these events. We’re very proud of Robert’s achievements, and the fact that he is such a vocal ambassador for his home town of Oban, helping to promote the wonderful community spirit in Argyll and Bute on the world stage.”
This motion was lodged by Councillor Jim Lynch and the Oban South and the Isles representative told The Oban Times: “He’s a well adjusted person in the way he behaves and he it’s great that he wants to give something back by being here today.
“We have a great history of sporting people in this area and he’s a fantastic example of it and as Bob touched on, sometimes you just need that the financial boost to get you going in sport.”