A golf and country club near Horsham in West Sussex has announced that eight-year-old British junior champion golfer Billy Stott has become its first official young golf ambassador.
Slinfold Golf & Country Club has been teaching and supporting Billy since he was five, when he picked up his first golf club and began hitting golf balls at the club’s 14-bay driving range. With a natural eye for the ball and with support from mum, dad, sister Lara, and coaches at Slinfold Golf & Country Club, Billy started to enter local junior competitions around West Sussex.
Since then, he has been making his mark with an impressive record of performances on regional and national stages and recently won the under-7 boys at the 2025 Champion of Champions World Championship at Lough Erne, Ireland. His talent, consistency and dedication have also seen him secure top finishes across the Sussex Junior Development Tour, including becoming both the Under 9 and Overall Tour Winner, as well as a top ten finish at the Faldo Futures Under 9 Final at The Belfry.
Over the years, Billy has received weekly lessons with several Slinfold Golf & Country Club PGA-qualified golf coaches, and the Club has now gifted free junior golf membership to help him achieve his dream of one day becoming a full-time professional player.
Billy’s dad, Ollie Stott, comments: “Slinfold Golf & Country Club has been and continues to be the perfect place for Billy and his golfing journey. We discovered the weekly junior group lessons at the club and decided to bring him down to the driving range. He loved it from the very first session, and he’s been coming back ever since.
“There are so many reasons why Slinfold Golf & Country Club is such a fantastic environment for a young golfer like Billy. The junior section is incredibly well supported, with friendly, knowledgeable coaches who offer both group and private lessons throughout the week. Their encouragement and structured approach have helped Billy progress with confidence and enjoyment.
“The facilities are ideal for juniors too. The par-three course has been invaluable for building confidence, learning course etiquette, practicing short game and scoring in a manageable, fun environment. On the main course, the option to play nine or 18 holes makes it incredibly flexible for juniors, and the shortened black tees provide a brilliant development pathway as they grow in distance and ability.”
Luke Blacker, general manager at Slinfold Golf & Country Club, comments: “It’s a privilege to support Billy with his extraordinary talent. Our team of coaches do a fantastic job in teaching him and our other junior golfers, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for him. Rory McIlroy better watch out!”
Support for Billy is just another investment example that Slinfold Golf & Country Club has been making in its junior golf training programme recently. In the past year, the number of junior golf members has more than doubled, with a quarter of these now achieving a handicap to play in local competitions. For the first time in many years, three juniors have been selected for the under-14 Sussex Academy, and one chosen to represent Sussex under-13s. The Club now runs one of the largest junior competitions in West Sussex, with well-established weekly junior competitions and an annual Club Championship.
To help encourage children to be active in sport and open up golf to all abilities and backgrounds, the club has also been developing and running taster days for under-10s in local schools, with over 150 students attending to date. A partnership with one school has been so well-received that it has now led to an after-school golf club starting for the first time. The club also holds golf camps for juniors in the Easter and school summer holidays, which frequently sell out in record time.
Leave a Reply