Heywood relishing challenge

KAREN Heywood, showing off her course-record score at Crompton and Royton, has signed up for the professional ranks after a successful amateur career.

LEADING local golfer Karen Heywood is turning professional — and she can’t wait to get started.

After an illustrious amateur career, the 32-year-old from Crompton and Royton has taken the plunge by joining the paid ranks.

Heywood, who this week makes her farewell amateur appearance for Lancashire, will be staying at the High Barn club, where she will shortly become assistant professional.

Looking forward to the new challenge, she said: “It is exciting, especially as there are not many women professionals in the game.

“I understand there are only two in Lancashire and, as a lot more girls are playing golf, there is a demand for lady professionals. It could be a good time to be making the switch.”

Heywood, who recently broke the course record at Crompton and Royton, has already attended an induction course at The Professional Golf Association’s headquarters at The Belfry and last week passed the playing test at Bolton Lostock.

That cleared the way for Heywood to start three years of study, which comprises of about 10 hours each week as well as her work at Crompton and Royton.

As Crompton and Royton has received funding to teach children, that is likely to entail working in local schools alongside assistant professional Martin Beaty.

Heywood enjoyed considerable success as an amateur — she has represented Lancashire for 12 years — and in 2005 she only failed by two shots to win her card to play on the women’s European Tour.

That is a no longer a feasible option as Heywood has an 18-month-old son Jack, which would make competing full-time on the circuit nigh impossible.

Becoming a mother hasn’t stopped Heywood competing, though, and she is looking forward to playing in local PGA women’s events.

But there has been a switch in emphasis and her priority now is to pass her exams to become a fully qualified PGA professional. Looking further into the future, her long term ambition is to become a club professional in her own right.