PANMURE GOLF Club, Barry, will welcome back a pair of familiar faces today ready to sharpen their golf games on their native links after a brush with the wonders of Augusta National Golf Club.

Identical twins David and Gordon Jones (23), from Monikie, last night brushed aside jet lag from return trips from Beijing and Atlanta respectively to encourage more students to enrol at St Andrews University for the chance to win a place on the Bobby Jones Scholarship.

Each year, Emory University sends four of its best students to St Andrews and receives four of the Scottish institution’s best in return, for an academic year in the host country.

After graduating last July, the brothers won a place on the scholarship and can now count coast-to-coast road trips across America, meetings with the cheerleading squad of the Atlanta Falcons and being on first- name terms with a former US president as highlights.

However, both agreed the chance to play a round of golf at Augusta National the day after this year’s Masters tournament was the highlight of their magical year.

David said, “As part of the scholarship, and given Bobby Jones’ connection to Augusta, we were made honorary members for the week of the Masters. We had access to the clubhouse, the Crow’s Nest and across the course for the entire week.

“One of the major features of the scholarship is promoting it, so we had to attend meals and ceremonies and give speeches.

“We had to speak at the Masters in front of Bobby Jones’ grandson and Sir Michael Bonallack—all pretty nerve-wracking stuff.”

Having overcome after-dinner nerves David admitted the walk to the first tee at Augusta was a knee- trembling experience.

He said, “On the Monday we got to take part in the annual post-Masters matches when the media get to play.

“We were drawn first off at 7am tee time and it was just unbelievable. I didn’t think I would be that overawed, but when we cut through the tented village to the first tee my knees were knocking. I could hardly stand up.”

Gordon added, “I don’t think there can be many more beautiful golf courses in the world. It may not be the toughest course in the world but there’s just something about it that you can’t believe. It’s a very special place.”

And golfing enjoyment did not stop at Augusta, with road trips to every corner of America enabling the twins to enjoy world-renowned courses such as Pebble Beach, Pine Valley and Shinnecock Hills.

However, it was not all fun and golf games, with the scholarship including an internship at the Carter Center, where they had to help analyse and assess peace strategies with help from former president Jimmy Carter.

David said, “He’s an amazing man. He never forgets anyone’s name and he makes you feel really important.

“You got a real buzz from hearing him shout your name across a street.

“He was the first person in America who could really tell us apart to begin with, and that was quite impressive.”

Gordon and David both also decided to take the opportunity to learn Chinese, with David’s skills earning him a month-long Chinese course at Beida University in Beijing.

Despite having relished every opportunity that came their way in the past year, David and Gordon admitted they were looking forward to a week on their favourite links at Panmure, before they begin management consultancy jobs in London next month.

To find out more about the Bobby Jones Scholarship, visit the website at www.bobbyjones.com.