Youngest swinger in town

DAN Riley is proving a big hit on the fairways and greens at Crompton and Royton. The talented junior has secured his first handicap at the age of eight.

GOLF: DAN Riley has set his first golfing record at the tender age of eight.

The talented youngster, who attends Royton Hall School, has set an amazing standard for juniors everywhere by securing a handicap at Crompton and Royton.

With the help of Martin Beaty and Karen Heywood, Dan has achieved a mark of 38 to become the youngest golfer in the club's near 100-year history to register an official handicap.

The achievement has left his father Rob proud and nervous, as he reckons his own game could soon be under threat!

"It started four years ago when we went up to Castle Hawk," said the happy dad.

"Dan didn't play, but we bought him some baby clubs in the shop afterwards and since then he has just got better and better.

"He buzzes off it. And the way he is looked after at the club is absolutely brilliant.

"He is on 38, but it can be a lot lower. He has already had a few pars on men's holes and it is only his size that is stopping him at the moment.

"I play off 16, so I reckon I will be looking over my shoulder very soon."

Beaty, who last year set up the 'kidz' section at Crompton and Royton, catering for under-10s, is similarly delighted with the rapid progress made by the golfing prodigy.

"Dan is very talented," he said of the youngster who can drive the ball 159 yards. "He came to us nine months ago for a few lessons and has progressed in leaps and bounds.

"He is here playing every night — you can't keep him away."