ALTRINCHAM Golf Course has excellent practice and coaching facilities and many local youngsters have been able to take advantage of a special junior coaching course.

The ‘Little Masters’ is a six-week course for youngsters which covers all of the basic but key principles with regards to completing a round of golf.

Providing the coaching are Matt Mew and Holly Calvert, who has played on the Ladies European Tour.

Matt said: “Pupils have learned putting, chipping, pitching, full swing, rules and etiquette during the course and will take part in a number of different activities and games throughout the sessions.

“The lessons are based at the driving range, chipping green and putting green with a view to playing holes on the course in the later lessons throughout the junior development programme

“The programme is loosely based on the junior passport system in which an individual must be able to achieve certain aspects of the game with a view to moving up to the next class – the champions and then finally the junior development programme.

“Once the three stages have then been completed the pupils should have a much stronger understanding on how to complete a round of golf and should have the ability to complete a round of golf successfully."

The first course has proved to be a big hit and anyone wishing to sign up for another one can email Matt Mew matthew.mew@traffordleisure.co.uk or Holly Calvert holly.calvert@traffordleisure.co.uk, or contact a member of the golf team on 0161 928 0761.

Meanwhile, the race for the coveted Manchester and District Ladies Golf Association’s Bell Cup, which had an original entry of more than 80 clubs, is hotting up as the last 16 teams look for a quarter-final place.

The final will be held on September 2 at Bramhall Golf Club, the home club of the MDLGA president Chris Kelly, when the four remaining teams compete in semi-finals then the final.

There have been plenty of shocks along the way and the draw for the last 16 is: Wigan v Stockport, Leyland v Heyrose, Harwood v Wilmslow, Pleasington v Bolton Old Links, Blackburn v Haydock Park, Mellor and Townscliffe v Warrington, Crompton and Royton v Chorlton, Dean Wood v Bury.