The future is looking bright at Furness Golf Club after a resurgence of junior members recently, which has seen the section grow from a fledgling ten prior to Christmas to nearly 50 kids now playing the links course on a regular basis.

Over recent years, the number of junior golfers taking up the game had dropped dramatically but after a group of members answered the committee’s call to reinvigorate the younger element of the club, the course is now regularly awash with kids learning and playing golf.

Currant captain Stu McAloone and junior organiser Steve Brennan, along with various senior members, have been running the junior coaching every Sunday from 4-6pm since the beginning of June.

It was from then that the numbers really started to increase. The kids have taken to the course which has been adapted to incorporate shorter holes for the younger ones and they haven’t looked back.

Golf was once seen as a bit of an expensive sport but Furness is giving all prospective new members the option to loan some clubs first before having to buy their own, a scheme which has proved successful.

The men’s and ladies sections of the club have also donated balls, clubs, bags and trollies that would have otherwise gone to waste.

The juniors have so far had three competitions, using ideas from the ‘Box of Tricks’ which has been designed by The Golf Foundation, to provide a platform for kids to play golf in a competition but also to make it fun and giving everyone a fair chance.

The club has also reintroduced a Junior Captain in Evan Rushton and a vice-captain in Jo Burrows, who have taken on the roles and showed great responsibility on the course and around the club.

While the new section is still in its infancy, the people behind it are looking to grow and expand the group and always looking for new ideas to keep the juniors on their toes.

If you know of anyone wishing to join they can either contact the club direct or junior organiser Steve Brennan on 07446112716.

It is a great way to make a new set of friends, keep fit and of try a new sport which anyone can play from five to 85 years old.