KENDAL Golf Club will have a fairway to go to repeat the success of their ladies as the season draws to a close.

The ladies team has an age range from 12 to 70 and won almost everything it competed for this year.

They started with a victory at the Westmorland and North West Lancashire Shield at The Heights course in May.

Within weeks they had won the Westmorland Bronze Shield and the One Day Team Trophy in Penrith.

Second in the Elizabethan Salver at Windermere followed but they were soon back to winning ways.

Ladies Captain for the season, Pam Lear, described the Silver Scratch Team's promotion to division one as 'one of the club's proudest achievements'.

Pam, from Levens, said: "We feel that we do a lot for the club so we get respect for that. I'm very proud of what we have achieved this year."

These achievements are made more special because the reigning ladies champion is actually a 12 year old girl.

Caitlin Whitehead, 12, has a handicap of five and is unbeaten this season.

She claimed victory in the County Junior Open at Brampton and qualified for the finals of the Andalicia Junior European Open in Spain later this month.

At St Andrews she became the 'Wee Wonders' Champion, completing the course in a round of 72.

Caitlin said: "Kendal Ladies have been very supportive and encouraged me in all competitions. It has been an honour to represent them. By giving me this opportunity it has allowed me to grow in confidence and experience golf at a higher level. Most of my matches have been very close, which has challenged my game but which I have thrived under the the pressure and have loved every minute of it."

She is very grateful for the guidance she has received at the club which has helped her more than halve her handicap in less than a year.

"Ben Waller the Pro at Kendal has always been there for me, he has coached me, given me advice and supported when needed," Caitlin said. "His involvement in the Junior section along with our new organiser Andrew Wilkinson has been phenomenal. Our junior section has grown to 60 members due to the hard work and commitment from both of them. Kendal Golf Club has a Junior Week where all the Juniors play morning and afternoon every day for a whole week during the school holidays along with other tournaments throughout the year all of which are sponsored by past and present members of the Club. All the enthusiasm from staff, members and parents helps to bring a great atmosphere to the club which allows everyone at all level or ages to get involved and have fun."

Ben Waller, who has been a member of Kendal Golf Club since he was a junior, said: "From our point of view we are open tot he whole community and we don't discriminate against males, females or disabled people. The setting itself has the most magnificent views of any club in England. There's panoramic views of the fells out to Morecambe and that's what makes it special and unique."

Speaking of their junior and ladies' membership, Ben said: "Over the last two years it has grown. We doubled membership this year and the ultimate aim is to keep the young players here and make them better. A lot of professionals have started their game here and hopefully we can nurture some of those juniors through the ranks."