THE lone golf club at the heart of York has been given a new transfusion at its most timely moment.

Heworth Golf Club, which is celebrating its centenary year from the start of next month, has welcomed a new professional to its homely Muncastergate base.

Fraser Kelley – born of an international golf legacy – has taken up his first appointment as a senior club professional after several years as an assistant across the breadth of North Yorkshire.

Now deep at York’s core – Heworth holds the distinction as being the only club to be based within the city’s central boundaries – the 34-year-old Kelley is determined to elevate Heworth GC’s profile and enable it to prosper well into its second century.

Said Kelley: “The club has been established for 100 years and none of us are going to be here at the next centenary, so it’s up to us to make sure we can build for a healthy future and to get the club strong again.

“We are aiming to be a first-class club whether it’s catering for the needs of the members or of visitors.

“So that means we are aiming to give everyone first-class service be it in competitions, membership packages, golf days, taster sessions and everything else.”

Kelly’s golfing pedigree is of blueblood stock.

His dad, who still plays off scratch, is Mike Kelley, the former England international who starred for many decades on the national and Yorkshire amateur scene when representing Ganton GC.

All sports enticed Kelly junior, but as he started to advance into his teens he developed into a proper chip off the bold block taking up golf with a talented vengeance.

County and international honours followed as an amateur from out of the Scarborough South Cliff GC before he turned professional in 2003.

Kelley played in several tournaments in America and also on the EuroTour as it was then known on the Continent before he then went to Filey GC to get his Professional Golfers’ Association qualification.

He worked there under then head pro Gary Hutchinson for three years, spending a similar spell at Malton & Norton GC, first under Steve Robinson and latterly Michael Brooks, before he applied, and ultimately secured, the top pro position at Heworth.

“It was the time for me to move up and make the next progression,” said Kelley.

“I’d been looking for a while for a club. I’d done a bit of playing and done a bit of teaching, but I wanted to get a club and be responsible for the whole package like a director of golf.

“And with this being the club’s centenary it’s a big year and a big challenge. I have always been up for a challenge.”

Kelley said as soon as he arrived at Heworth he detected “a good vibe”, adding: “I want to get Heworth back on the map and increase the membership.

“It’s got a fantastic location and is very accessible. It is also one of the friendliest clubs I have ever been to. It has very supportive members and is forward thinking.

“The centenary gives us a bit of an advantage this year but we want to make sure we build on that to keep the club at the forefront of golf in York.”

Kelley has quickly launched into the centenary swing by organising a night golf competition, which has become popular at Heworth over the last couple of years.

The new event will be on Friday, March 11, starting at 6.20pm. Interested players can phone the club shop on 422389.