It is a dream come true for teen Dean Richards

WHEN you’re 19 years old there aren’t too many things more appealing in life than golf, travelling and playing more golf.

Well, maybe there’s one or two other things.

Yet Dean Richards could barely contain his excitement after being accepted into a US college to continue a quickly-growing golf education.

The Northern Beaches [Sydney] sportsman is basically bred to be a golfer.

His father Rob is the long-serving pro at one of Sydney’s busiest golf clubs, Warringah.

And his grandfather Bob, who passed away a few years ago, served as the pro at Warringah right up until his retirement before Rob took over.

“I’m pumped; I can’t wait,” Dean told Inside Golf.

“It all began when I was in about Year 10 or 11; that’s when you decide if you want to go to college – most go to a recruiting company and coaches follow you.

“I chose last year around February after stringing a few good scores together. I get to study, travel aboard and play golf – so I figured this could be a really good option.

“We found a few colleges and sent heaps of e-mails to head coaches – about 30 and eventually narrowed it down to about 15 and in the end got about six offers. 

“We waited on one, which was Queens University at Charlotte and I signed with them in January this year. Now I can’t wait to get there.

“It’s a bit of a golfing belt there and we get to play some great golf courses and, from what I’ve heard, it’s really good.

“All of our tournaments are played in North and South Carolina as well as Georgia and Florida, which should be really good fun.”

Dean explained that his father Rob had never pushed him into golf and really let him find his own path into the game.

“You name the sport, I did it. There was a bit of state swimming, some basketball, rugby, baseball, cricket, and I sort of found golf at 14, which is very late,” he said.

“It was New Year’s Day one year and I got a membership at 14 and began playing a bit more at Warringah and a few events and found another mate, Jack Roche, when we were both off 24: He played at Balgowlah.

“We played together a bit and that’s how I got keen.

“Jack went to Manly and got a scholarship and I began to play more events. You just get addicted.

“I went to Manly when I was off a five handicap and got a scholarship there in 2020, met a lot of members and made some great contacts. They have a terrific junior program.

“I got to scratch, then plus one, then plus two – and I have been playing tournaments ever since.”

“I played some Jack Newton events, which were our main tournaments.”

As his golf improved Dean found himself playing No 1 for the Manly pennant team this year.

“There was myself and Jack Roche and another junior, Brodie and all three of us played well and I lost one game last season, which was good.

“This year, playing one, I won three, tied two and lost one, which was alright.

“I then missed a few games while I was away playing in Melbourne.

“Golf is such an individual game – it’s playing for something above yourself and I really enjoyed that. That’s why I really wanted to do college golf. It’s like playing pennants every week.”

Dean had shot a seven-under-par round at Manly to tie the course record – that was on Christmas Eve last year.

“It’s funny but I woke up a little late that day and arrived just 10 minutes before my tee time, I hit three practice putts and went straight to the first tee, did a quick stretch and I was away.

“Manly’s easiest holes are 1, 2 and 3 and I only parred them and it was the difficult holes that I played well on. It was a funny round because I missed three six-footers on the day. It was hilarious.

“I’ve had about five scores of five-under in tournament play and won my last Jack Newton event, which was good. And I’ve also had a six-under in a weekly event.”

Now Dean’s looking forward to tackling courses like Quail Hollow in the US.

“The TP at Sawgrass is also on my bucket list,” he says. “Everyone wants to play the 17th there.”