THE first steps in developing a junior academy have been taken by Sandburn Hall Golf Club.

The Flaxton-based 18-hole outfit held a junior academy taster day last Saturday to give new young golfers the chance to find out what the sport is all about.

Two sessions, from 9.30am until 11am and from noon until 1.30pm, were attended by enthusiastic youngsters who turned out after the club sent out leaflets to schools in and around the York area.

Sandburn Hall professional Steve Robinson, along with junior organiser Richard Matthews, took participants through a range of exercises on the club’s practice area and greens. He hopes the event’s success will lead to a host of new talent walking through the doors at Sandburn Hall.

“We did some swing work, holing out and putting - a lot of the basics.

We also did some pace control work,” said Robinson, picturedright with two of the youngsters.

“We made it quite competitive.

The youngsters came from local schools. We sent some flyers out and we wanted people from within the local area.

“We are trying to build up our own junior section so they develop into a competitive little playing unit. It has been a good start. We are going to keep moving it on so we can develop our own junior golf academy. There will be continuous coaching sessions going on throughout the year and there will be competitions. We want them to come, enjoy themselves and have fun. We want them to compete.”