JUNIOR golfers from across the town have been invited to take part in an open tournament hosted by Bury Golf Association members Harwood Golf Club.

The Harwood Junior Open will be staged on Saturday, July 16, when players will compete for the Markland Trophy, which was first played for in the 1960s but has been gathering dust in the club's trophy cabinet for a number of years.

It is a stableford competition for children and youths aged 18 and under, and restricted to boys with a handicap up to 28 and girls up to 36.

As well as the main tournament, there will also be a mini competition open to children of all ages and abilities and the opportunity to meet the club pro and junior organisers to welcome you to Harwood Golf Club.

Steve Henderson, a member of the club's junior committee, says the aim of the competition is to attract more youngsters living outside the Harwood area to try out the club's facilities.

"We already have quite a few juniors from Elton High School and St Gabriel's in Bury, as well as those living in Ainsworth attending local primary schools, such as Christ Church," he said.

"Our aim is to be a warm, friendly, welcoming club, and to do that have put in a lot of effort to create a vibrant and growing junior section, which is open to children of all ages and abilities."

Club professional Dale Affleck coaches the juniors on a Tuesday and Thursday evening.

The Tuesday club, which takes place in Harwood's own practice ground between 5.30-6.30pm, is aimed at absolute beginners aged five and above. Youngsters do not have to be a club member and they are £2 a session.

Thursday sessions, from 6-7pm, focus on progression, getting juniors ready to play the full course, and are again led by Affleck.

Junior organiser Marcus Hall leads sessions young club members on a Saturday afternoon, which includes an 18-hole competition, as well as a nine-hole short course comp for those not yet ready for the full course.

The Harwood Junior team, led by Jan Stirling and Hall, play in both the Bury and Bolton junior golf leagues on Sunday afternoons.

A full year’s junior membership starts from £20 for under-12s to £60 for u16s and includes all match fees and full use of the course and practice ground seven days a week.

Henderson added: "One of our members told me that it was the best value £60 he had ever spent, as his son spends many evenings, weekends and school holidays up at the club enjoying golf with his friends.

"It is the perfect time to get involved ahead of the long school holidays."

Harwood Golf Club Juniors is open to anyone aged under 18. To find out more, contact the club pro on 01204 522878 or pay a visit to see the junior section in action on Tuesday or Thursday evenings.

To book a place in the Harwood Junior Open, visit harwoodgolfclub.com/opens.html or www.golfempire.co.uk/golf-clubs/harwood-golf-club.htm or call 01204 522878 option four.