JUNIOR golfers from across the town have been invited to take part in an open tournament at 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 who had not turned 18 before January 1, 2016, and is restricted to boys with a handicap of up to 28 and girls with a handicap 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 Dale Affleck as well as junior organisers.

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 various primary and secondary schools from the Bolton and Bury areas, such as Elton High School, St Gabriel's, Christ Church, Turton High School and St Maxentius " he said.

"Our aim is to be a warm, friendly, welcoming club, and to do that we 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."

The club professional holds coaching sessions for juniors on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

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 the sessions are only £2 per person, which includes refreshments in the clubhouse.

Thursday sessions, from 5.30-6.30pm, focus on progression, getting juniors ready to play the full course, and are again led by Affleck.

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

The Harwood junior team, led by Jan Stirling and Hall, play in both the Bolton Golf Association and Bury Golf Association 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 call in at the club off Roading Brook Road in Harwood 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.