I feel very lucky to be fulfilling my childhood dreams of playing golf for a living. My earliest memories are of my dad picking me up from nursery school and taking me to Clydebank & District Golf Club where he played. I would ride in a bogie, or cart, attached to his golf trolley.
From aged 10, I would head straight to the golf club after school, playing with the older boys in the junior section. I won the Junior Club Championship and various junior opens and by the time I was 14 or 15 I knew I wanted to make golf my career.
I left school to work in the professional shop at Clydebank & District and at 17 I qualified to play on the Europro Tour at my first attempt. I turned professional just before my 18th birthday and played on the Europro Tour from 2010 until 2013. I competed on the Alps Tour 2014-2016 and then returned to play on the Europro Tour from 2017 until it folded in 2022.
Whilst competing professionally I also worked at Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort for 6 years to help support my playing career. To help other golf professionals in Scotland, I set up Big Johnsons Tour in 2016.
Some 25 years since I fell in love with the game, golf remains my passion. So much so that in addition to playing, I am also undertaking my PGA training, studying for the Professional Golf DipHE, and working with Wilson Golf as a technical rep, carrying out custom fitting across Scotland.
And like most golfers, I continue to chase the perfect round. Playing on the world stage remains my driving ambition.
A Quick 9 with John
1. Which golfer do you most admire?
Tiger Woods.
2. Favourite course?
Loch Lomond. The scenery is stunning.
3. Dream fourball?
Tiger Woods; my brother, Scott; and Kevin, my closest friend.
4. Lowest score?
A course record 9 under par at Dumbarnie Links
5. Favourite club?
Wilson Dynapower Driver
6. Best shot of your career?
I holed a 20 ft putt on the last green for a birdie 2 to win the Scottish Par 3 Championship.
7. Pre-shot routine?
2 practice swings, then I choose my line to target and pick something on the ground in front of the ball which is on that line to set myself up. Then it’s all about swinging back and swinging through on that line.
8. What do you like to do off the course?
Not sure I would go as far as to say that I like it, but I go to the gym. I do like to socialise, however!
9. Favourite food?
Seafood pasta.