Most of Charley Hull’s playing companions will ask Vicky Cuming, her manager, if they can play with Charley again. Others, though, give the impression that they would sooner find themselves a professional who specialises in reeling out a series of tips.
“The problem with that,” says the 26-year-old Charley, shortly before leaving for America and the LPGA Tour’s Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, “is that I’m no good on tips. Good skin tips, yes; golf tips, no. When I play well, I’m obviously doing a lot right, but when I’m playing badly, I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Her father, Dave, recalls the occasion when Charley was among a group of top golfers invited to play with some of the R&A’s VIPs ahead of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. Charley was sent out with the Chinese Ambassador who, virtually straight away, wanted her to pass on the secrets behind her long, strong hitting. “It’s no good asking me,” came the youngster’s apologetic response. “You’ll need to speak with my father.”
Dave, who used to watch all his daughter’s early lessons to be better able to help her on a more regular basis, gave the VIP a selection of ideas, leading the way with how Charley had grown up hitting the ball as hard and as far as she could. That, though, was not enough for the visitor.
When it came to the evening dinner and the R&A hierarchy wanted to “talk shop” with the VIPs, the Chinese ambassador was too busy
