Elite Golf Isn't Just About Great Golf

I have been extremely fortunate throughout my coaching career to have had a front-row seat to some fantastic players' journeys to success. This week is another one of those special experiences as I'm in Spain with the Belgian National Boys Team as their coach.

The European Team Championships is the highest level of amateur golf on the continent, and just about every European player who has gone on to wear a Ryder Cup uniform has competed in this event. The championship begins with two rounds of stroke play involving 16 teams, with the top eight then battling it out in match play for the title of European Champions.

Over the years I have been lucky enough to coach at this event, I've watched some of Europe's finest young golfers, as well as some outstanding Belgian players who have gone on to compete at the very highest level of professional golf.

One thing that always strikes me at these championships is the level of respect and sportsmanship shown by both the players and the coaching teams. Before every match, opponents wish each other good luck. Great shots are applauded, even when they come from the other side, and once the final putt has dropped, everyone shakes hands with genuine respect for both the game and each other.

This is elite-level sport, but perhaps more importantly, it's elite-level behaviour.

Having watched the conduct at a few interclub matches over the years, I often wish I could bottle up what happens here in Spain and sprinkle a little of it around some interclub matches.

Before you get ready to email me telling me, "You don't see much of that at the Ryder Cup," I completely agree. In recent years it hasn't always set the best example, although it certainly wasn't always that way.

One of my favourite moments in golf came at the 1969 Ryder Cup when Jack Nicklaus conceded Tony Jacklin's final one-metre putt, ensuring the match finished tied at 14-14. Nicklaus famously said, "I knew you would make that putt, but I didn't want to give you the chance to miss it." That's sportsmanship at its very best. Unfortunately, moments like that seem to have become much rarer, and I think the game is poorer for it.

Our goal this week was to finish in the top eight and compete for the medals. I'm delighted to say we exceeded that target by qualifying in fourth place, finishing ahead of golfing powerhouses such as England, Germany and France.

Unfortunately, we came up just a little short in the match play stages and missed out on a medal. Of course, as every coach says after a defeat, "It was a great learning experience." The annoying thing is... it's actually true! The lessons these players will take away from this week are invaluable, and they'll become better golfers—and better competitors—because of them.

As a coach, weeks like this remind you why you do the job. Watching young players represent their country with pride, compete with class, and respect both their opponents and the game itself is worth far more than any medal.