Sussex coach Carl Watts is dedicated to bringing out the best in the rising talent of Sussex.

The former European Tour professional is offering a helping hand in his role as coach to the Sussex County team.

Watts, 32, a former Stanley Deason schoolboy who won the British Boys' Championship, has an upbeat message for the Sussex hopefuls.

He said: "I am trying to change the outlook of young players and how to treat the game.

"I am drawing on my experience of playing the Tour. I tell them there is a reason why only one out of a 1,000 make it and that only 120 keep their Tour cards each year.

"Apart from the technical aspects of the swing, I present them with a business plan and information about nutrition, fitness, rules of the game and 101 other things.

"There is a lot more to tournament golf than hitting balls. The right mental approach is vital. Some of them think that having come so far at county level everything is going to happen and wonder why they come unstuck.

"What I do is based on common sense, it is not rocket-science. Some of them admit to having a shocking diet of beans and burgers and that golf is a bit of a jolly.

"When I was their age there was nobody around to put me right on those points.

"There are some very good young players in the county squad and I am trying to realise their potential."

Watts won the inaugural Russian Open in Moscow ten years ago but the big cheques on the tour were few and far between.

His best in 23 events was £83,320 for second place in the BMW Open after a play-off with Robert Karlsson following a last round 65.

Five years caddying at the Tour qualifying school taught him how to win by watching others and this experience can help Sussex golfers.

He said: "What they are aiming for is a very insular lifestyle but do they realise that? And are they strong enough mentally to cope?

"Handicaps are irrelevant. What I say to them on introduction is, how good are you? To that question some have flushed with embarrassment.

"They must learn to treat a county match as if it were The Open.

"They can learn a lot from Gary Evans' career. He not only had the ability as a youngster but the work ethic as well.

"How do you think Tiger Woods prepares? With him everything is positive. There is nothing negative. That is the state of mind necessary to reach the top."

This winter Watts is hoping to get sufficient sponsorship to fund coaching in Spain.

Currently he and the squad meet two evenings a month for seminar-style coaching and, have guest speakers like a Tour caddie and a successful businessman.

Two of the under-18 squad, Steve Stark (Brighton and Hove) and Michael Mudie (The Dyke) agree that Watts' teaching is correct.

"He has made a lot of difference to the outlook of the players," said Stark who has left his job in the club shop to concentrate on full time playing. His dream is to play the US Tour. Mudie's ambition is the European Tour.