Euan McNeill has seen his fair share of golf courses since turning professional in 2020 – and now he’s preparing for a new chapter, as he jets off to Jakarta, Indonesia, to teach the sport he loves and inspire the next generation of talent.

The 22-year-old was introduced to the sport when he was just six years of age. On his ninth birthday, he was given a membership to Lochwinnoch Golf Club, and the Beith boy got right into the swing of things.

“At 13 or 14, I realised I was pretty good at this golf thing,” he said. “People started to take notice of me.”

McNeill’s progress showed no signs of halting. He secured back-to-back club championships in 2018 and 2019, and then made history at the club by making it three-in-a-row in 2020. The cherry on top? Shooting seven-under-par, his best result to date.

He began junior coaching in 2021, offering one-to-one lessons. Much of that is thanks to his current swing coach, PGA professional David McCallum – and Euan’s own coaching journey was enhanced by securing a swing studio of his own.

“I really enjoy helping people improve their game,” he said, “and knew I had a passion for coaching.

“But, being from the west of Scotland, an indoor studio was necessary to make it financially viable given the unpredictable weather.

“I’m very fortunate that my mum has this building, where she owns a gym downstairs. She enabled me to have this space where I could do my thing.”

Now, Euan is ready to swap the sights of Scotland for the views of Indonesia.

Life in a different continent may seem daunting for some, but Euan is relishing the culture change. He has accepted a coaching role with the Leadbetter Golf Academy in Jakarta, the country’s capital, saying it was an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.

“With the cost of living crisis in the UK, people are having to prioritise their spending,” he said.

“I wanted to look for a new opportunity. The golf industry is quite a small space, everybody knows everybody. Your reputation is quite important.”

Euan’s Indonesian opportunity came after he was put in touch with Stephen Moriarty, director of golf in Asia for the Leadbetter Golf Academy, set up by David Leadbetter, who spent his coaching career working with the likes of Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, Ian Baker-Finch, Nick Price and top female players Kathy Baker, Lydia Ko, Suzann Pettersen and Michelle Wie.

“David Leadbetter is a huge name in golf,” Euan continued, “so working for this Academy really excited me. He’s taught former world number ones and has more than 40 academies worldwide.

“Working for this Academy is like a stamp of approval – you know you’ll be working alongside top, top coaches.”

Euan was due to jet off on the long-haul flight on Wednesday, January 25, with a soft opening at the course taking place on February 1 before it opens to the public a month later.

“I’m optimistic that I’ll be with the company long-term,” he said.

“I can’t wait to make this a success and broaden my horizons.”

One of his ambitions now is to help aspiring golfers achieve their dreams.

“I want to help children get the opportunity that I maybe didn’t get. I’ve worked hard to get where I am; now I want to give kids in Indonesia the chance to fall in love with golf and become well-rounded players.”