Baildon youngster Usher having a ball on his American adventure

The Baildon member has played some of the world’s most famous courses against some of the best up-and-coming talent, enjoying impressive success along the way.

In 2008, he secured a scholarship to Notre Dame in Indiana, one of America’s top universities, but the following year had to undergo surgery, which kept him out of action for months.

A hip injury meant he needed an operation to insert artificial cartilage – and he has come back sharper than ever after going under the knife.

He said: “Since coming back from surgery, in my last six college events, I have finished in the top 15 five times, the top ten four times, had three top fives and won twice.”

The 22-year-old admits it took him some time to get back into the swing of things.

“It took a while for me to be able to shift my weight onto my right side and make a full turn.

“In total it took around five months to get back to play on the course to a level where I could compete and walk 36 holes in a day.

“I am still not pain free but I am getting there. The rehab facilities we have at the university are world class and definitely speeded my recovery.”

As a youngster, Usher progressed quickly from the junior ranks at Baildon Golf Club to play an important role in securing their Bradford Union Scratch League title in 2007.

The former Guiseley School pupil also gave an early signal of his potential by reaching the last eight of the Yorkshire Amateur Championship that summer.

His itinerary in the US has included playing on some of the country’s most famous courses, including US Open venue Pebble Beach and Ryder Cup course Kiawah Island, and meeting some of the top players in the game.

He said: “Our fall schedule last year included events at Kiawah Island, Pebble Beach and Spyglass Country Club, as well as playing in Texas, Florida, Arizona and California.

“Playing courses like Kiawah and Pebble were a great experience. I played a great round at Pebble and finished at twilight with a birdie on 18.

“We went on our warm-weather training down in Arizona and got to hang out with Paul Casey and Aaron Baddeley at Bubba Watson’s home golf course.”

Usher has improved his handicap to a more-than-impressive plus four across the pond and said: “My game has developed tremendously since I came to the US.

“I have especially worked on my wedge game and I have become much longer off the tee.

“Since being here I have had to work out a lot as well, which has made me more supple and stronger.

“The standard in the States was extremely eye-opening. The college system is really a gathering place for some of the best talent from around the world and playing with some of the best young players really brings your game on as well.”

One of the events Usher won was in Monterrey, California last October.

He recalled: “I was tied for the lead going into the last day at four under and had four birdies and no bogies on the back nine to win the event by two shots. My parents were there as well, which was especially nice.”

The Bradford Union player says he owes a huge debt of gratitude to his parents, and admits he wouldn’t be living his American adventure without their support.

“It was great to have my parents there in California because the reason I was there was due to them supporting me financially in my junior career and everything else they did for me to be able to be there.

“Whether it was driving me to coaching in Malton as a junior or just supporting me in whatever I wanted to do, especially coming over to the States.”

Usher’s longer-term plan is to turn professional if he can find the funding but the finance student has plenty of other options open to him.

He said: “Notre Dame has the number one-ranked business school in the country which has the potential to set me up for a good job after graduation if I don’t play.

“I have one more year left after this one and graduate in 2012. After that I am looking to go pro if I can get some funding from alumni to cover entry fees and travel.”