TWO golf courses in the area have beaten what has been one of the soggiest summers on record.

The Oaks GC has so far lost only one day and that was not because the glorious Aughton Common course had fallen foul of the monsoon weather. The cancellation of a seniors' event was due to the thunder and lightning raging around the skies.

Enthused club secretary Sheila Nutt: "As soon as there is any heavy rain within an hour of it stopping the course is always clear again."

Meanwhile, the newest addition to North Yorkshire's golfing circuit has enjoyed a startling element-conquering start.

Though confronted by the regular downpours since opening on July 1 - ironically by BBC television weatherman Paul Hudson - the Flaxby Park Golf and Country Club's new 18-hole course on the York to Harrogate road, near the A1, has stood up to the challenge.

Said operations director Iain Russell-Jarvie: "It's not been the sort of start we would have asked for but at least it's proved the high quality of the course's construction," he said.

"The ironic thing is we were expecting a lot of visiting golfers in the opening months just because the course is new, but instead they've been coming because we've been open when other courses have had to close."

Flaxby Park's recently-appointed professional Guy Wills will be running a series of coaching schools over the coming months for golfers of all abilities.

The first school, over the weekend of September 11-12, will cover all aspects of the short game - pitching, chipping, putting and bunker play.

Said Wills: "If you can chip close, consistently get out of bunkers first time and avoid three-putting, your handicap will quickly come down."

The school, which is open to non-members, will run from 11am to 1pm each day and a maximum of eight places are available at £25 per person. For details contact Wills on 01423 339911.

Updated: 10:36 Saturday, September 04, 2004