JUNIOR activity is on the rise at High Legh Park Golf Club.

A pathway to playing the sport competitively is in place and team events could be on the calendar in 2021.

Junior organiser Chris McEwan explained what is in place at her club.

"High Legh Park Golf Club isn’t a traditional golf club and doesn’t have a traditional junior section," she said.

“Whilst we don’t have a lot of juniors, what we lack in numbers is made up for by enthusiasm and we are proud of our junior members and their achievements.

"Year on year we have seen an increase and are looking forward to being able to enter some team events next year.

“Our junior captain is Sam Read, who has reduced his handicap from 13.6 to 9.3 this year and his junior vice captain is Georgia Taylor who plays off 18."

Youngsters have benefited from High Legh Park's approach to allowing non-members to take part in competitions.

McEwan added: “Juniors who are not members of a club and don’t have a handicap normally don’t have access to competitive golf, so to encourage them, during ‘normal’ circumstances, a series of competitions are held in the summer months on the nine-hole Academy course for both junior members and non-members to play in a competitive environment.

“This provides an opportunity for junior members to submit cards for handicap and for non-members, for a nominal fee to enter the competition, to be allocated a Society Handicap, so that they can compete and see how they are progressing and a prize presentation takes place after each event.

“The intention is to encourage, educate and promote confidence as each group is accompanied by a volunteer to help with etiquette and card marking. This enables them to gain confidence before progressing onto the Championship course.

“The intention is to hopefully recommence these next year.

"Once a junior achieves a handicap, they are encouraged to play in club competitions and are eligible to win prizes alongside the other members.

“There are various opportunities to play competitively and competitions are usually split into divisions depending on handicap and include both male and female members in the same competition.

"There is also an opportunity for juniors to play in Wednesday Midweek competitions and nine hole qualifier competitions held on Fridays on the main course during the summer months.

“The season concludes with The Junior Belfry Trophy which is a major sponsored competition held on the Championship course and enjoyed by all."

The club has excellent practice facilities, including a floodlit driving range with Toptracer technology.

There are also some private teaching bays where coaching is available from the various teaching professionals based at High Legh Golf Club.