FALMOUTH — Ten years ago, Andrew Slattery’s approach to golf was no different than the way most of us experience it.

Pay to play once a month or so, because it beat sitting at home and because the harsh reality of a cooped-up winter was right around the corner.

Hit the ball without having any assurance where it would go. Enjoy it as a social activity. But embrace it as a major component in his then-adolescent life? Hardly.

“I couldn’t break 40 for nine holes,” Slattery said. “I don’t know what happened. I don’t know if it was one good shot or I shot 39 once and said, ‘Oh, wow, I’m going to play more.’”

With time, commitment and instruction came exponential improvement.

Slattery is no overnight sensation, in other words, although it might look and feel that way after the West Minot player’s win at the 95th Maine Amateur this past week.

Now 25, juggling pro shop duties at Martindale Country Club in Auburn with efforts to complete his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Maine, Slattery tamed a toothy, snarling course at Woodlands Club. He also defeated a field of 132 in which almost every other player — from juniors to seniors — wields more experience in competitive golf.

He’s only seven years out of Poland Regional High School, where he was no wunderkind in the manner of current and recent schoolboy stars such as Seth Sweet, Luke Ruffing, Ryan Gay and Sam Grindle. A look back at the Sun Journal’s capsule preview of the Knights that autumn listed the senior Slattery as a “promising newcomer.”

“I only played senior year. I wasn’t very good,” Slattery said. “Spent a lot of time practicing. Hit a lot of golf balls. Played a lot of golf.”

Slattery appreciated the seriousness with which friend and neighbor Keegan Fennessy approached the game. Fennessy, who graduated a year ahead of Slattery, now lives, works and plays in Florida.

“I played a lot of golf with him and learned a lot from him by watching him play while he was around,” Slattery said.

To scroll through Slattery’s results at the tournament through the years is to understand how far his game has evolved. He didn’t compete when the amateur was played at Martindale in 2009. Slattery tied for 19th at Kebo Valley in 2010, faded to 32nd after a promising start at Portland in 2011, was in a deadlock for 25th at Sunday River in 2012 and tied for his previous best, eighth, at Augusta in 2013.

He perfected the craft at his home course, which sent eight players to this year’s amateur.

“The greens are so tricky that it makes you learn different shots around the greens,” Slattery said of Martindale. “I think that’s the most valuable thing I’ve learned. How to take spin off the ball with your wedges, stuff like that. It’s always windy there, too. You’ve got to keep it straight on the back nine. You learn how to put the ball in play.”

Slattery sees a full spectrum of courses on the Maine State Golf Association weekend circuit.

He teams with Craig Chapman of Auburn, Don Flanagan of Monmouth and Jeff Leonardo at those events. In the individual standings, he entered the week ranked third behind Ricky Jones and Matt Greenleaf.

That put him on the qualifying bubble for the USGA Men’s State Team Championship, to be held on the Pete Dye Course at French Lick (Ind.) Resort from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. With the amateur win, Slattery receives an automatic berth on the Maine team.

“I think I’ve won two events. I play in so many of those things,” Slattery said of the state circuit. “I have to play every week to keep up with Matty in the USGA State Team race. He’s been beating me all year. I shot 70 at Old Marsh and the next day he shot 69. It’s the same thing wherever we go.”

Slattery’s previous biggest MSGA win was leading his Martindale squad of Brian Bilodeau, Will Kannegieser and Andrew Stonehouse to victory in June’s state team championship at Belgrade Lakes.

Other than blocking off the autumn weekend in Indiana on the calendar, Slattery’s other 2014 priority is the Tri-State Team Championship. Slattery has been on the team two years, coinciding with Maine taking consecutive titles from New Hampshire and ending years of Granite State domination.

“We’re hoping for three in a row,” Slattery said.

His game suggests someone who could be defending a fistful of titles and guarding a boatload of streaks over the next few summers.

Not bad for a beginner.

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