NEW Furness Golf Club captain John Ellis has set himself a three-pronged challenge to complete during his year in office.

He is keen to restore a united front at the Walney club, getting all sections – ladies, seniors and all other members – actively involved.

Highest on his list of priorities is a year of charity fund-raising for the Team Jake Child Cancer Leukaemia Group.

He said: “I wanted a local charity and they don’t come more local than that. I am very passionate about it. That’s my top priority.”

The first step towards a ‘Furness GC United’ has been the response to the annual captain’s away day, being held at Worsley Park on June 12/13.

“The idea of getting everybody united has worked at least as far as the trip goes,” he said. “All my senior friends and the younger end have shown support and I will be taking 76 golfers, including, for the first time, 20 seniors.

“I have been supported by young and old so, given good weather, this should be one of the good away days.”

But what about up-and-coming golfers – a section that has been sadly lacking in recent years at the club?

Again, the new captain is optimistic that things will change with the help of professional Paul Rawlinson and some assistance from a few volunteers.

He added: “At the moment there is no junior section, but one was going to be formed and we are hoping that our pro Paul Rawlinson is going to bring down his students and the school kids he teaches.

“Then, with the help of a few members to volunteer to take them out on the course and not just the putting green to show them round, we can take it from there.

“Ideally that should be soon, because the course right now is in brilliant condition, especially after what every course has gone through over the past year.”

The three targets of a successful charity, a united front and a resurrection of the junior section may be an ambitious plan for a man who, until 10 years ago, had not held a golf club, but there can be no denying his staying power.

After serving his time at Carradus Electrical in Rawlinson Street in 1966, he eventually took over the company 22 years later before retiring in 2006.

It was then that he took up golf and he is now a regular in the Furness Seniors team for inter-club fixtures around the county.

“I had never played golf in my life until then but I just needed something to keep me occupied,” he said

His open-door policy of confronting his every challenge or problem head-on could make him a popular figure on and around the course.

Furness members are taking up a friendly off-course challenge – to name all the holes on the par 71 links.

The best suggestions will be collated and used on the new scorecards.

One hole that has already earned a nickname to suit its standing is the 410-yard uphill 13th. This treacherous ‘hole from hell’ has already earned the nickname Hades. It would be a brave man to change that.

l Entries are still being taken for next week’s Evening Mail Furness Open men’s and ladies’ competitions.

The ladies’ Pairs Open four-ball better-ball competition takes place next Wednesday, with the men’s event three days later on Saturday.

Entries for the Men’s Open (£8 per player) and ladies (£14 per couple) can be made by contacting the clubhouse on 471232. Closing date is tomorrow.