Niamh Carruthers, 14, from Barrow, first picked up a golf club at the age of nine, having not previously shown an interest in the sport.

“She was never into golf, she was a gymnast,” Niamh’s mum Rosie said.

“It was 2021, it was a bit of an off chance because her dad had seen a girls’ golf rocks programme at Barrow Golf Club advertised at work and enrolled her.

“She absolutely loved it and she’s literally never not played since.”

Niamh has already won tournaments including the PING Lee Westwood Junior Major (Image: Rosie Carruthers)

Niamh has enjoyed great success since taking up golf, representing Cumbria County Ladies, as well as winning in her age category at the PING Lee Westwood Junior Major.

For Niamh, she enjoys Golf due to the feeling that winning on her own brings, compared to winning in a team sport.

She said: “I like to play new courses. I enjoy it when you win, when you do it by yourself, I feel like it’s different.

“Compared to winning in a team sport, it feels better.”

Niamh’s golfing journey is only just beginning and she’s already making plans for the future, with sights set on the USA.

Rosie added: “She’s planning for when she leaves school to go to Myerscough College in Preston to do Golf Management Studies. That’s for two years, the equivalent of doing your A Levels.

“And she’s already signed up to a scouting agency in America for universities so she’s just got to keep improving and keep getting better.”

Niamh has recently received the backing of local business RF Miller & Co (Image: Rosie Carruthers)

Niamh is now competing in English Girls National events and the Stephen Gallagher Scottish Tour and has received the backing of local business RF Miller & Co, with the accountancy firm going to have their logo printed on part of Niamh’s kit.

There are also exciting competitions on the horizon for the teenager.

“In April, I’m playing in the Ping Scratch Tour, which is in Dunstanburgh,” Niamh said.

“It’s a group of elite golfers. It’s a new competition because she’s played on the Ping Junior Golf Tour for a few years but this is one that they’ve made for the more elite golfer,” Rosie added.

Niamh will be taking on elite golfers in her age group at the PING Scratch Tour in April (Image: Rosie Carruthers)

With tournaments at various different courses across the country, Niamh’s mum Rosie is often on taxi duty and has played a big part in Niamh’s golfing journey too.

Rosie said: “It’s basically every single one of our weekends so I work full-time and along with her dad I’m a full-time taxi for Niamh too.

“It’s unbelievable, the amount of time and money you have to spend. It’s just constant but it’s what she wants.”

You can follow more about Niamh’s golfing journey by following her on Instagram @nlc_golf