Peter Jones: My life in golf

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Peter Jones is a giant of a man in every sense. Standing over 6ft 7ins, the star of popular BBC TV show Dragon’s Den has emerged from humble beginnings to become a self-made multi-millionaire with an estimated worth of £475m. 

Nowadays the 49-year-old has a lot of fingers in a lot of pies with interests in a wide range of companies and a variety of markets that collectively generate sales of more than £250m and employ more than 1,000 people. Awarded a CBE in 2009, Jones always knew he had what it takes, saying:
“I wanted to do the best I could, knowing that one day I was going to be a multi-millionaire.” 

He’s invested over £3m during his time in the den and told us: “It’s been a very important part of my life.” Since 2005, he’s been involved in nine series and is currently working on two new shows (one in the UK and the other in America), both in the early production stages. 

Besides his busy commercial and television life, Jones has managed to maintain a seven handicap. He hits
it a mile and, as you’d expect, is extremely competitive on the course…

I’ve been playing golf on and off for 30 years. I first started playing with some friends when I was in my teens. I’m not quite sure how I ended up with my current 7.5 handicap considering the fact that work, business commitments and home life combine to ensure that I don’t get onto the course as often as I’d like.

I don’t get the time and chance to practice much. I suppose you could say I’m a bit of a fair weather golfer in that I tend to mainly play during my holidays in August in Portugal – I particularly enjoy Quinta do Lago – and in December in Barbados. 

The only other times I get out are when I take part in charity or celebrity events. 2014 was a golden year for me in that I managed to help England win the Celebrity Cup against Scotland, Wales and Ireland
at Celtic Manor and appeared in the Dunhill Links at St Andrews. Playing in events like those is much more nerve wracking than performing in front of the television cameras. Dragon’s Den is nothing compared to standing on the 1st tee at St Andrews! 

One day I’d love to become a
scratch golfer. That’s my ambition, but you’ve got to be realistic and owing to my current work/life balance it’s a distinct possibility this is one goal I might not achieve. But who knows? I’ve got this far without regular lessons, so maybe the odd lesson here and there might put me on the right track. 

I’m fiercely competitive when
I’m out on the course. Make no mistake, I play to win as well as to enjoy myself. Golf, for a few hours anyway, gets me away from all the pressures in life and business. It’s something of a great escape and it might be a bit hard to believe but I prefer to keep business and pleasure separate when I’m out on the course. 

I’m extremely competitive but in a gentlemanly way.
I usually play for pride and enjoyment though every so often we’ll stick a tenner or £20 into the pot and that helps to keep your mind and game fully focused. But I’m nowhere near as competitive as my good friend Ian Poulter.

For me, there’s no other sport like golf. Every round is a challenge. No day is the same in terms of the weather, playing conditions and your own game – you could be driving brilliantly one day, but hitting it all over the place off the tee the next, or putting superbly one day but three-putting on every green the next time you play. And that’s what makes it so frustrating. 

My worst moment in golf was  missing a two-inch putt on the 18th to draw a match against Alan Shearer at Quinta do Lago. I really do need to practise my putting! He was all smiles when he took my £20.

I’ve had some wonderful times on the course but probably my best single moment was chipping in at last summer’s Celebrity Cup. There were thousands of people there and it was
a great feeling to see the ball drop. 

I’ve had a hole-in-one and I know that is considered every golfer’s holy grail, but for me it was a complete and utter fluke. So much so that in my book it doesn’t count so I have erased it from my memory bank. It happened many years ago on the nine-hole course at Leeds Castle in Kent and somehow, after several bounces, the ball dropped in.

My best round was a level par 72 on the South course at Quinta do Lago. It was one of those rare days when everything went right and everything went in. It was even more pleasing to play so well on such a top course which has staged the Portuguese Open eight times, including in 1989 when Monty finished -24, won by 11 shots and smashed the course record of 63. That put my effort in the shade somewhat! 

The best course I’ve played is the exclusive Green Monkey course at Sandy Lane in Barbados. The conditioning is out of this world.

My favourite club is my driver, because when it goes straight it goes a long way. Unfortunately every now and then I have a tendency to slice the ball, which can put me in big trouble. You’ll often see me playing on the wrong fairway! 

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