Youth success story

GIRL POWER . . . Hulme under-16s enjoy schools’ title success in Southampton.

GOLF:

OLDHAM Golf Club boasts a thriving junior section, thanks in no small part to the hard work of professional James Rowlands.

Rowlands, who for the past two years has been giving free tuition to local children, has seen his efforts rewarded with some of the juniors ready to play on the course.

Several have joined the club and they had their drive-in ceremony on Saturday when new junior captain, 16-year-old Karl Handley, executed a wonderful drive down the first hole in front of a good turn-out of club members.

Professional Rowlands expects the junior section to go from strength to strength, with many more youngsters currently having tuition. He expects a junior membership of about 40 this season.

The winner of the juniors’ nine-hole competition was Ellis Gittings, while the runner-up was Ellis Harwood.

The winner of the three-hole subsidiary competition was Oscar Lewis, with his cousin Megan Lewis the runner-up.

The Oldham club is currently working towards Golfmark status and is almost ready to submit their application to the English Golf Union.

For this they must show evidence that they are a beginner-friendly club with all the necessary policies in operation.

Youngsters interested in the free tuition which takes place every Saturday afternoon should contact James Rowlands in the professional’s shop on (0161) 626 8346.