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The three-year-old boy 'obsessed' with golf

Emily Ford
BBC News, Bournemouth
The toddler who is 'obsessed' with golf

While some babies were holding their favourite cuddly toy to help them sleep, three-year-old Wilson was holding a golf ball.

The toddler is "obsessed" with the sport, his mum Rebecca said, and they go to the driving range in Bournemouth, Dorset, at least four times a week.

She said his love started at an early age, remembering he would find his dad's golf balls around the house and at the age of one he would take them to bed with him.

The toddler has since become a familiar face on golf courses near his home, learning how to play by watching others.

UGC A family photo shows dad Luke on the left, Wilson in the middle and Rebecca on the right. They are all looking at the camera and smiling, while sat in a golf buggy on a golf course. Luke has short hair with a ginger beard and wears a bright blue printed polo shirt. Wilson is standing, holding a blue dummy to his mouth and has short light brown hair. He wears a navy blue polo shirt and white trousers. Rebecca has her arm around Wilson's waist, she has long brown hair and wears a round neck white t shirt.UGC
The family regularly visit golf courses and mum Rebecca says WIlson behaves 'impeccably'

Rebecca said: "We don't teach him anything, he watches people at the driving range in the bays next to him and he watches their feet and then afterwards he does it."

She said the sport was "always on his mind", whether he was using his fork to putt peas around his plate, or picking up the kitchen broom to practice his swing.

Even the word golf was the first that Wilson said out loud.

"He's loved it his whole life," Rebecca continued.

"Every time I see him playing, I just think he is so lucky to have found something he loves so early on.

"He has such a knowledge of who he is, it's really sweet."

UGC Wilson is mid swing with his new golf club. He is grinning at the camera and holds the driver in the air as he swings it to the right. He has short light brown hair and wears a denim hooded shirt jacket with a grey long sleeve top underneath and black trousers. He is standing in a driving range bay, which has a red brick wall behind him and the green can be seen in the distance, lined by trees.UGC
Wilson's first word was 'golf' and his parents say they want to support him to have fun while he plays

Wilson watches competitions on TV and online with his dad, Luke, and the whole family visits golf courses together frequently.

"He behaves impeccably on the course because it is so special to him being out with his dad," Rebecca said.

And it's not just for fun - Wilson has a speech delay and his parents are able to use golf as a way to help him learn.

His mum continued: "We'll line up the golf balls for him to count as he hits them, or use different coloured balls so he can call out the colours.

"I'm so glad we've found out what he's driven by, it's incredible."

Wilson's parents are unsure if the three-year-old wants to go pro when he grows up, but they are open to whatever he chooses.

Rebecca added: "I think for us to support him just to have fun is going to be the best route - whether he wants to do it professionally or not, we see the value in the skills he has."

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