Returning to his place of birth, the 23-year-old La Moye GC member is seeking fame and fortune on the popular Sunshine Tour.On the links he is instantly recognisable by his casual gait, messy blond hair and sunglasses.
One gets the feeling Myles will fit right in.’It’s one of those things that if I don’t do it now I might always wonder why I didn’t try.
If it doesn’t work out I’ll still be young enough to do whatever I want,’ he said.
‘Everyone’s going to be my sort of age and they’ll be my standard or better.
That’s good because the only way to improve is to play with better players.
It makes you raise your game.
I want to play day in, day out, with top quality players.
‘You play on their top courses down there, because it’s their premier tour, and it’s been a breeding ground for some top professionals – Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman all started there.’This will not be the first time Jones has gone to a different continent – he played the game full time four years ago while on a golf scholarship in Virginia in the USA.It was after completing his GCSEs that Myles decided he wanted to go away to America to learn the game – and that’s what he did after finishing A levels at Victoria College.’I played College golf in America because I thought that was the next logical step for me,’ he said.
‘You can improve up to a certain point in Jersey but over there the competition levels are massive and the difference was quite a big leap.
I went over to the States when I was 18 and it was quite a shock – not only the culture but the standard of golf.
Every tournament the winner is shooting under par.
It’s sort of pro standard golf really.”I was there for four years and I did quite well.
I practised two to three hours a day, as well as doing a degree, but the best help was learning how you go round and how you look at a golf course – what shots you need to hit where, where you can bail out, where you can’t bail out and your no-go areas.
It’s basically course management and getting your way round the golf course.’My actual golf game didn’t improve as much as I thought it would but in terms of getting around the golf course it’s much better.
I think course management is the most important part because you’re never going to hit the perfect golf shot every time, you’re always going to hit shots that are a little bit off.’Jones took up golf seriously when his dad bought him a set of clubs for his 11th birthday and they used to go up to La Moye every weekend where Myles would hit balls on the driving range until he was old enough to be a member.At the time it was practise, practise and then practise some more – a routine that eventually paid dividends when a successful trial with the then captain and vice-captain earned him an invitation to join La Moye on his 13th birthday.’I’ve been a member ever since and in that time golf has gradually taken over from all the other sports I used to play,’ he said.
‘I spent all my holidays up at La Moye – I’ve probably driven Barry and Derek nuts over the years – just going out and playing one-balls and practising out on the course.’My main strength is probably my long game.
I hit it solidly, not always dead straight, but I’m narrowing down my whole game.
I want to make the next step so I’ve changed my swing which should lead to more consistency.’I have quite a good temperament.
I’m very competitive, which you have to be to succeed in any sport, as well as being single-minded.’My decision to go on the Sunshine Tour was for various reasons.
I was born in South Africa and the cost of living is a lot less than the UK and Europe so I can support myself better.
I’m going for the last eight or nine tournaments this year and the tour restarts in February next year.
If I do well in those tournaments this year it should give me a good background and vital experience for next season.
I’d like to have played well enough so I would be exempt for all the tournaments next year.’
