LORDS’ pro Aaron Quinn continues to predict a mighty golfing future for five-year-old pupil Billy Gunyon-Perry.

It’s 20 months since Echosport brought you the story of how Billy, at the age of only three, was striking a golf ball more than 100 yards and was showing considerable prowess in all aspects of the game.

Now the Canvey youngster, coached regularly by Quinn at the Rayleigh course, is preparing for his first “major” event.

This weekend he travels to Scotland to take part in the US Kids Golf European Championship being played over three days at a number of famous courses in East Lothian.

And, if successful in his age group from an event which will see 400 children from 30 nations taking part, he will be off to the United States for the World final.

Soon after our original story Billy, while holidaying in America, picked up a specially cut down set of clubs. And his enthusiasm for the game has grown.

Said Quinn: “Billy’s an exceptional talent and, although it might seem a daft thing to say when he’s only five, he’s maturing as a golfer all the time.

“It’s not so much that he’s grown since you last featured him — I’d say that the biggest difference now is in his putting.

“When he was younger he was quite happy to just get the ball in the hole when on the greens without worrying how many strokes it took.

“But these days he’s regularly two-putting nearly every green. He’s still strong in every aspect and recently I tried him out playing one of our longest holes at Lords, nearly 500 yards. And he did it in eight — phenomenal for someone of his age. I’ve been getting him to practice a shot he hasn’t had to play at courses down here, the pitch and run — which will be very useful in Scotland — and he took to it like a duck to water.

“Billy’s got a great attitude — if he hits a bad shot he just laughs and forgets all about it. It’s going to be tough for him in Scotland as he’s in the five-seven years age group and most of his rivals will be older than him. But they’ll all be playing on shortened courses.

“It will be a fantastic experience for him and, providing he keeps his interest, I’m sure he has a great future ahead of him.”

Billy’s exploits in the game are obviously inspiring others. Next week at Lords Quinn, and senior pro Tony Blackburn, are launching a special golf for beginners course for youngsters five to 14.

The sessions last for two hours and, with 70 youngsters booked in for the Rochford Council subsidised lessons, there’s already a long waiting list.