GOLF professional Jeff Mathews has turned his hand to painting ceilings and wiring electrics in a bid to get his new driving range ready for the big opening on Saturday.

The 40-year-old and his father-in-law Geoff Veitch have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in making their dream come alive and the new range at Samlesbury Hall will be open for business from noon on Saturday.

"I am up to my eyeballs in things I have never done before," said the former Blackburn Driving Range pro.

"I am painting ceilings and wiring plugs, and it is a mad rush to be open in time.

"So many things have happened and we put the opening date back a few times but we just made a decision we had to open and Saturday is the day.

"We are opening at 12 o' clock - if I can keep my eyes open!"

The driving range has 25 bays and the range is fully floodlit. There is a practise green and a golf course, which will be opening in March.

Mathews will be back teaching for the first time in 11 months after 12 years at Blackburn.

"There will be a golf academy and teaching centre, two purpose-built teaching bays, a big practise green and a practise bunker open in March," he said.

"You can work on your short game on the practice green.

"You can have lessons in anything, painting if you want, but I am better at golf."

Mathews is hoping to lure some of his students to his new course.

"I'm hoping all my former students come back. I had one booking for Saturday but I've had to cancel it because we are too busy!

"Most people have kept in touch and there is quite a bit of interest."

Mathews has 'everything' riding on the venture and is determined to make it a success.

"I'll be living in a tent if it doesn't work," he said.

Mathews first saw the land at Samlesbury Hall two years ago and said it was too good to turn down.

"It had always been in my mind to build my own driving range and when I was shown the land I had to have it.

"It is a lovely setting, lying right next to Samlesbury Hall with trees lining each side of the range and the course.

"There is a fantastic lighting system so that this will be a far superior range."

Saturday's opening will be a low-key affair, said Mathews.

"We are going to start making money instead of spending it," he said.

"There will be a few drinks on but we haven't been able to plan anything big because we have been so busy.

"We will have a big opening, maybe with a few celebs, when the course opens in March."

ANYBODY wishing to book lessons with Jeff Mathews at Samlesbury Driving Range can contact him on 01254 813703.