It goes almost without saying that all mums are proud of their sons.

And that is certainly the case with Marie Bell, who just happens to be mum to a very good golfer indeed.

Matt Bell is only 18 but he’s been playing off scratch for the past 15 months and has been winning tournaments for the best part of 10 years now.

But although Matt clearly has a special talent for the game made famous by Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros and the like, that’s not what makes mum most proud. What mum is most proud of is Matt himself.

“He’s such a nice kid” said Marie, “luckily everybody says it. He is very modest. If you didn’t know him you’d never know how good at golf he is, he would never tell you unless you directly asked.”

Marie is no golfer herself but she understands sport because both she and her husband Roger are playing tennis to a high standard. Their other son Chris is a good tennis player too.

Tennis is a sport that Matt played in his early years as well, playing at the East Gloucestershire Club in Leckhampton, just a little further than a fierce Rafa Nadal forehand from his home in Charlton Kings. Talented, Matt played for the county too, but by the age of 11 it was clear that golf was his choice of sport for him.

Marie told The Local Answer: “Matt got into golf at Lilley Brook when we took him up to the junior sessions on a Saturday morning at the age of eight.

“Ray Jennings, the junior organiser, encouraged him to play when they could see the natural swing he possessed.

“It was all about having fun back then, trying to land the golf ball in a target or drive it as far as the tree at the practice ground, and then slowly he progressed to playing on the course and entering the club junior tournaments, where immediately his handicap began to reduce.

“He remembers very well the first time he shot under 100 and the first nett tournament he won. Matt was always half the size of his peers but his short game gave him a huge advantage around the greens and his quiet determination and surprising concentration at a young age served him well.

“The former club pro Simon Harrison coached him to his first junior title of three at Lilley Brook and Matt was selected to join the county training squads at the age of 11.

“Since then he has represented the county at under 14,16 and 18 level, captaining the under-18 side this season.

“He made his adult debut in the 2nd and then the 1st men’s teams last year. The Gloucestershire county have been really helpful in his development as a golfer, including him in squad and individual coaching programmes.”

Matt is very loyal to the Lilley Brook. It’s been a match made in heaven because the club have been very good to Matt too.

“Everybody at Lilley Brook has been helpful and supportive,” said Marie. “He started playing for the men’s A team in the North Gloucestershire Foursomes League when he was 14 and James Mitten, one of the men’s A team players, really encouraged him in the beginning and has played with him for several years now.”

Although Matt, a former pupil at Balcarras School, comes from a strong sporting family, it’s been his desire that has got him to the level he now enjoys.

“It’s Matt’s dream, not our dream,” said Marie. “We’re happy to take him to tournaments to compete, but only if he wants to go. He’s got to want to do it himself.”

At the moment he certainly does. He is currently in his first term at Stirling University where he is studying accounting and finance. And when he’s not trying to get his head round debits, credits and spreadsheets, he’ll be playing as much golf as he can.

“Stirling University has got a wonderful golf programme, running several successful teams and he’s entering British universities tournaments,” said Marie.

And if his past record is anything to go by, he should be aiming to be among the winners.

The Gloucestershire player won Lilley Brook’s men’s and junior club championship by six shots last year aged 17 to become the youngest ever men’s champion.

That was another trophy for the cabinet and Marie admits that there are plenty of them in his bedroom back home.

“They can be dust magnets,” she laughed.

They’re sure to be spotless when Matt returns home this Christmas and once he’s said “hi, remember me?” to his family, one of the first people he is sure to catch up with is Sherdons professional Richard Ballard, who is his personal coach and also doubles up as his county coach, which is how they first met.

“They just sort of clicked,” said Marie. “Richard is fantastic, he has taken Matt’s game to the next level and he is so supportive. If he’s playing in a tournament, Richard will think nothing of driving him to the course the day before and taking him round, plotting his best approach, so that he can achieve the best on the day.”

Matt’s current aim is to represent Gloucestershire at South West week and compete in next year’s British men’s amateur championships. But after that, how far does he want to go in the sport?

“He wants to go as far as he can,” said Marie. “He wants to be the best he can be. Whether it is as a professional, only time will tell.

“To get to the top you’ve got to be really good. There are hundreds of really good young players in the UK and thousands worldwide.

“You’ve got to be exceptional to make it and have a personal belief that you are better than everyone else. A touch of arrogance can help but that’s not Matt.”

It may not be Matt’s way, but nice guys can succeed at the very highest level in golf – think Sandy Lyle, Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose to name just three.

These are certainly exciting times for Matt Bell.