Als gewezen postbode had Griffiths een lange amateurcarrière, waarin hij in 1975 de "Welsh Amateur Championship" en in 1977 en 1978 de "English Amateur Championship" won. ###>A former postman, insurance salesman, miner and bus conductor, he had a long amateur career, winning the Welsh Amateur Championship in 1975 and the English Amateur Championship in 1977 and 1978 before turning professional.