Andrew Minnikin continues to add to his golfing story – breaking course records and winning titles across the region. Having returned to captaining his county, and now within just three starts of breaking the all-time cap record for Northumberland, we caught up with him to find out the secret of his success
The top level of amateur golf has changed a great deal since the days when players would tee it up in the Amateur Championship final or even at Augusta National and be back in the office or on the factory floor within a couple of days.
With more opportunities to compete as aspiring young professionals, more incentives to play college golf in the US, and the very top of the amateur game being increasingly geared towards those on the path to the paid ranks, there is a greater divide than ever before between those who play the game full-time and those who balance a career outside of golf with their playing ambitions.
For 45-year-old Andrew Minnikin – a four-time Northumberland county champion, winner of 11 other county titles, and the England Golf County Champion of Champions in 2021 – and a full-time data analyst at the Ministry of Justice – the balancing act is now finely tuned.
While he works full-time, albeit flexibly with the chance to start early or finish late, Andrew continues to compete at the highest level.
Despite having less time to play and practice than some of his younger adversaries, and having had his knee reconstructed in December 2012, you’ll see his name in lights regularly.
In 2024, Andrew’s highlights included a fifth Northumberland 72-hole Strokeplay Championship win – shooting a seven under-par round of 65 at The Northumberland in the fourth round of the weekend to beat 18-year-old Harrison Sewell by a single shot. He also lifted the NYSD Championship trophy at Cleveland – shooting a course record 63 and following it up with an afternoon 66 to top the leaderboard by 11 shots. Add in several other scratch titles around the north, and it was another strong year on the golf course.
“It’s always nice to have a bit of success, and 2024 was certainly a good one,” says Andrew as we catch up at his home club – City of Newcastle.
“Winning the Strokeplay Championship was undoubtedly the highlight. Shooting 12 under-par for four rounds in some tough conditions and breaking the course record at The Park to beat Harrison by one was special.
“I was 44 at the time and I keep asking myself when the time will come when I can’t compete in these events anymore.
“I’ve been doing it for more than 20 years now, and it still all comes down to putting the work in. I know that’s how I play well. It gives me confidence on the course when I know I’ve prepared as well as I can. I think that dedication comes from simply loving the game.
“More so than when I was a bit younger, I fully appreciate that’s not for everyone – certainly not for lots of those who work and play amateur golf – but it’s how I do it and I get a lot of satisfaction from it.”
Andrew’s success in the region over the last 20-plus years is remarkable. Having made his Northumberland debut in 1999, he won his first county title – the 72-hole strokeplay – at The Northumberland in 2003. Following a knee reconstruction in 2012, the floodgates opened.
In recent years, as well as his success in his home county, Andrew has won scratch titles in Durham, Cumbria and Yorkshire at a remarkable rate.
“Competing – and travelling to different courses and counties to do so – is a passion of mine,” adds Andrew. “I think it’s important if you’re going to put yourself forward as a high-level amateur golfer to play these kinds of events whenever you can. I’m an extreme case – averaging 80-plus competitive rounds a season as well as matchplay games – but there’s so much to gain from tournament rounds and competing against the best players in the region.”
As well as his individual honours, Andrew has represented his club and county with distinction. Undefeated in the Newcastle & District Golf League in 2023 – though he admits his form was less good last term – he has won national and European team titles at City of Newcastle – the latter earning him a spot on the cover of Northern Golfer alongside Phil Ridden and Alex Dixon in 2019.
For Northumberland, Andrew has been a stalwart. Over the last 26 years, he has played 129 times for the county and sits second on the all-time appearance list – just two caps behind Sandy Twynholm. With only six opportunities to earn a cap each season, that is a remarkable level of consistency and dedication.
“Representing your county is the highest honour for amateur golfers who don’t play for England, and it’s been incredibly rewarding for me over the last 26 years. Barring any injuries, I’ll pass Sandy’s record later this year, which is incredible when you think about the list of great players – far too many to list them all here – who I’ve been lucky enough to play alongside. I’ve taken a lot of joy from county golf over the years – particularly our success in the Big Six and going to the national finals as a team – and I hope to build on that for a few more years yet.
“Going into 2025, having had some success last season, my game is in good shape. I’m still working with Andy Paisley on my swing and seeing progress there. I’ve also been working with Angus Smith on my fitness. I’ll admit I’m not comfortable in the gym environment, but I’ve been doing the work at home and there’s certainly a little bit more speed and strength there.”
With a lot to fit in – just in terms of playing, never mind being on the committees of the Newcastle & District Golf League and his home club, and the county executive as captain – Andrew must be detailed and organised.
“There are a few things which make it achievable, and the big one is being organised. I plan my full year in advance, and I’ll build time up at work when I can and use it when I have a lot of golf coming up.
“It helps that I know my game as well. I know when I need to practice and how I maintain things with drills from Andy and little checkpoints. I’ve hit balls at 5am in the past, but those days are behind me.
“There’s a lot of time spent on my game and around the sport, but it’s my passion and it’s never onerous. For me to play well, it comes down to working hard and being dedicated. It’s amazing how much getting the little things right adds up – practising, working on your swing, even just something like cleaning your clubs – that level of dedication is the only secret for me.”
Aside from playing the game, Andrew commits time to supporting it off the course too. As well as his league and club commitments, in 2025 he has returned to captaining his county – having first done the job 2013-15.
“It certainly wasn’t about making sure I get those three caps to break the record,” says Andrew on returning to the role. “When I saw there was a gap for someone to take on the captaincy, I was happy to step forward again. Having taken so much from the county over the years, it’s really important to me to offer my time and experience back to Northumberland whenever I can.
“I’ve played for so many great captains and I’m under no illusion that I’ll benefit from all their hard work over the last two decades, and going back even further before that. We’re a small county in the north region, but we’ve shown in recent years that we can punch well above our weight.
“The talent pool is strong, with a mix of young guys on their way through the levels of the game and highly experienced players at county level. There’s a great buy-in from the players across the board, so there’s a lot to look forward to.
“I know it’s not an easy role, and I know where I was naïve in the past, but I hope I have good relationships with all the players going into it and can pick teams that will do well. If any player wants to represent Northumberland, no matter how they’re coming into it, I’d like to support them and give them opportunities to showcase their ability and ultimately see them earn their place.”
Looking beyond the season ahead, and given Andrew’s skill in planning, it’s no surprise he has reflected on what comes next for him in the game.
“I think I’m capable of competing for a while yet, certainly at county and regional level,” he says. “I’ve got a few years until I’m 50, but I’d certainly like to give things like qualifying for the Senior Open a go having been to Final Qualifying for The Open twice.
“Having never represented my country, I hope to stay sharp over the next 10 years and maybe have a push at that down the road as well. We never know what’s around the corner, but I’ve got to have some goals to aim for.”
With the amateur game continuing to evolve – and events like the Amateur Championship and England’s biggest tournaments becoming increasingly professional in nature as players competing in them do so with the aim of becoming professional golfers – players like Andrew who compete at a high level into their 30s and 40s while working full-time are becoming rarer.
“Competing against guys who might be 30 years younger than you is certainly interesting,” he says. “Golf isn’t like football or rugby, you can’t control the opposition – you have to focus on your own game. In the county and regionally, the courses we play aren’t overly long and I’m certainly not too short off the tee to compete with the younger guys.
“That said, outside the region and at the national events, the amateur game is geared towards preparing players to compete on tour. The amateur in his late-30s or 40s who goes to work and competes at the weekends – like myself, Richard Aisbitt in Durham or Will Bowe in Cumbria – is rarer these days.
“There’s a division between these experienced players and the younger guys, and a division between the kind of events we play. The super-elite amateur events are there to establish players for a career in the game. Guys like Gordon Clark or David Curry aren’t playing those events anymore. If I had been born 30 years later, maybe I’d have gone down that road and had a different career in golf, but we’ll never know – and I certainly don’t regret the journey I’ve been able to go on in the game.
“Golf has given me so much – and I’ve given the game a lot of time and dedication – but I’m still really passionate about it. The game is in my DNA and I’ll be playing for a long time to come.”
*The online version of this article has been updated to change two references to last season being 2024 (not 2025)
