Michael Sims is not the only local golfer finding the world of professional golf a harsh and unforgiving place right now.

While the Island’s number one is busy struggling to establish himself on the Nationwide Tour, young Eric West is having similar issues on the lower-key Canadian Tour — though at only 23 years old, the latter has certainly got plenty of time on his side.

Over the past six weeks, the former UC Berkeley student has been plying his trade at various events in both California and Mexico — with missed cuts and high scores proving to be the over-riding theme of his travels.

Such results, however, were not entirely unpredictable for an undeniably talented youngster in the midst of some pretty major swing changes, while West has been honest enough from the outset to admit that it could be some time before he starts transforming potential into results.

“I’m well aware that I’ve got a lot to learn and I’ve had some pretty disappointing scores, but I’m pretty sure that my game is heading in the right direction,” said the former Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay champion who, along with Sims, holds the Mid Ocean Club course record of 62 or nine-under par.

“Right now my game’s pretty much in transition and it’s going to take me a while until I’m completely comfortable with the swing changes I’ve been trying to make over the last couple of months.

“It’s been a little frustrating because at all the tournaments pretty much I’ve been making a lot of birdies, but then I’ll go and make a couple of really bad swings, hit the ball out of bounds a couple of times and miss the cut.

“I’ve been making far too many dumb bogeys when I’ve been in pretty good positions to make the cut. Luckily though I’m friends with a lot of older guys on the Tour who are either in their late 20s or just 30 who have given me a lot of advice and told me to stay patient.

“They keep reminding me that I’m only 23. I should still be at college right now — in fact I would just have finished my senior year. So I’ve got a lot of time to work things out and there are a lot more events on the Canadian Tour this year than before, so there’s a lot of golf coming up.”

Despite enjoying a very successful amateur career at both college in California (which he left a year early to pursue his professional dreams after falling out with his college coach) and locally, West admitted he was still getting to grips with the altogether more serious and pressure-filled atmosphere of the pro game.

“Amateur golf was obviously a lot more relaxed,” he said.

“At college the tournaments were only three rounds and there was no cut, so you’d just turn up and play and enjoy yourself. You tended to be a lot more familiar with the courses as well, but in but in professional golf I turn up at these events having never seen the course before. Every shot also means so much when there’s money involved and the pressure is a lot greater.

“The more experienced guys manage their games better than me at the moment and are a lot more regimented. They also recover better than me when they’ve got themselves into difficult situations. I’ve had a chance to watch that and am gradually getting used to it — but it’s not going to happen straight away.

“I’ve got to learn when the right time is to be aggressive and when it’s right to take a three iron off the tee and be a bit more cautious. Getting those sorts of little things right can be the difference between making the cut or missing it.

“Overall though I’m really enjoying it. I’ve got to know a really good bunch of guys which makes the travelling to and from different tournaments much easier.

“I was on the road for the last six weeks or so, and to be honest by the last event (the $125,000 Iberostar Riviera Maya Open in Mexico where he finished tied for 117th) I was running on fumes and ready to get out of there.”

West will be returning home for a few days rest next week and is next in competitive action at the $150,000 Times Colonist Open in British Colombia which starts on June 11.