THE future is bright for junior golf, reckons top coach Steve Robinson.

The chief of England Ladies and Yorkshire Women, who also operates as the head professional at Flaxton’s Sandburn Hall Golf Club, has looked back at a stellar 2014 for his charges - and declared the best is yet to come.

A young national team finished eighth of more than 50 teams in the European Championships - ahead of Spain, France and Germany - with Cheshire’s Bronte Law finishing third in the individual competition.

Shorn of their more experienced players, who returned to college sport in the United States, Robinson’s inexperienced outfit then went on to win the Home Internationals tournament at Aberdovey in Wales.

Robinson, nationally recognised as one of the country’s top 25 coaches, was thrilled by that achievement and by the efforts of Yorkshire Women in finishing third at county finals week behind Hampshire - fielding a team so young it had a 15-year-old starring.

With the likes of Malton & Norton GC’s David Hague also flourishing under his tutelage, winning the York junior and the Union’s matchplay title, he believes there is a great deal of potential in the next generation.

“The England Ladies team has had a good year. They are moving forward and competing at a high level and are getting close to where they need to be,” he said. “In the home internationals we had five new caps, out of eight players, but managed to win that.

“We thought we would be up against it. Wales were the defending champions and had a similar team out to 12 months ago. The girls worked their socks off. For Yorkshire, some of the players had never even played at a high level before.

“First of all, to get to the county finals was a massive achievement for that young squad. They finished third and they were predominantly made up of under-18s. One senior player was 20.

“I was very pleased with their performance.”

The England outfit are soon to depart for winter training and Robinson added: “We are getting better.”