BALLS were flying around Barrow Golf Club as dozens of youngsters took to greens and fairways as part of a holiday camp.

Club professional Mike Newton and members of the junior committee led four days of coaching at the course, with 85 children taking part.

The boys and girls, aged between six and 12, completed a number of skills workshops and games over the four days, as well as having the chance to take what they had learned out on to the course.

The Furness Plastics-sponsored camp was a big success for the club, with new members joining as a result of enjoying their holiday sessions – taking the bustling junior section to more than 80-strong.

“We had a few little ones who had never played golf before through to some of our more experienced juniors,” said Newton, who started the holiday camps at the club last year. It was a brilliant week, everyone really enjoyed it.

“We had some kids who had only signed up for one day, but by the end of it they had enjoyed it so much that they signed up for the rest of the week as well.

“We went through the whole range of golf shots and skills and did a lot of games and skills challenges which the kids enjoyed and we played a few more holes on the course this time as well.”

The move on to the course was a result of feedback from previous camps held at Barrow.

They had revolved around the practice area and putting green, but the youngsters were keen to show what they could do on the full-size course.

“After last year, we asked for feedback from the parents and the children – what most of them told us was that they wanted more options for food at lunchtime!” laughed Newton.

“So we sorted that, but a few also said they wanted to spend more time on the course and we listened to that, which is why we had them playing a few holes. It was all well received.

“We set up a four-hole course on the practice area for those who were too small to play on the course itself and those who were big enough played a few holes on the course.

“On the final day, we had everyone out on the course – it was a grand finale. They played from a couple of holes to four holes, to eight depending on how old they are and how experienced.”

All the youngsters who took part in the camp received a medal and a certificate.

Other spot prizes were also awarded during the week for smaller competitions, with a presentation held at the end of the four days.

Newton holds regular junior coaching sessions every Saturday at Barrow.

They run between 12.30pm and 3.30pm in three different groups based on age and experience.

For more information, or to sign up to the coaching, call Mike Newton on 01229 832121.