CHORLEY Golf Club has linked up with Euxton Park Golf Centre to provide a year’s free membership for eight promising young players.

It’s an initiative sparked by the club and Andy Leigh, the North West’s regional officer for the Golf Foundation, the national body tasked with encouraging more children to take up the game.

He explained: “We coach a group at Euxton driving range every Thursday night and Saturday morning and several play the nine-hole course so a few of them are ready for the next step.

“Introduction to a club will help them to kick on and learn all they need to know.”

Leigh added: “I was asked by Chorley inform them about any youngsters showing interest whom they could sponsor. I’m a member of the club so my involvement at Euxton and working for the Golf Foundation is a perfect combination. It will be interesting to see how the partnership develops.”

Ron Pottage, Chorley Golf Club’s junior organiser, said: “The youngsters will play the course from the forward tees then work their way through seven then nine holes and eventually the full 18.

“We have 26 juniors plus the eight we have given free membership. We’re confident we can generate some good players.”

Chorley’s PGA pro Mark Bradley oversees the junior coaching sessions at his club while Gary Clark and Steve Hamer are in charge at Euxton.