FORGET the British Open at St Andrew's - it has nothing on the hazardous labyrinth offered by the new open in Yorkshire - namely the first-ever Yorkshire Open Office Putting Competition.

Companies throughout the region are being invited to take part in the contest launched by The Prince's Trust and sponsored by business advisers Arthur Andersen and Garretts, part of Andersen Legal, which provides free business consultations for York's growing technology companies.

In fact the business advisers launched the competition with the first match at Arthur Andersen's Leeds headquarters as some 30 members of staff tackled a challenging course consisting of six holes over five floors, putting around desks, along corridors, lifts and even through a tunnel of tax manuals.

Overall winner was Stephen Bottley of Andersen Legal who shot a round of 32.

Senior partner Geoff Taylor said: "Everyone really entered into the spirit of the competition, from novices to seasoned golfers and it was a keenly contested match."

Any other firms in Yorkshire wanting to sign up for the Yorkshire Open can get an organiser's pack from The Prince's Trust, containing scorecards, rules of play, course design tips and information on running an event by phoning Nick Bramley at 01977 663255.

PICTURE: Teeing off at the launch of the Yorkshire Open Office Putting Competition are, left to right, Nick Bramley, of The Prince's Trust, Geoff Taylor, senior partner of Arthur Andersen in Leeds and David Haxby, also of the Prince's Trust