MEET York Union of Golf Clubs' junior squad.

The 12 teenagers are flying the flag for young golf in the York area by pitting their talents against youngsters from other unions across the region.

Their latest outing at The Oaks on Monday resulted in defeat to Teesside, but team co-ordinator Mike Bickerton sees his charges as something of a work in progress.

The scores were level after the foursomes at lunch but Teesside's strength told in the afternoon singles and they eased to a 22-14 win.

Bickerton said: "It's not unusual for York Union because the majority of the inter district is much stronger than us in terms of their catchment areas.

"Teesside, for example, have 21 clubs in their area, and if you go down as far as Sheffield, they have 47 clubs. We have 12 clubs in the York area, of which five are all relatively new.

"It takes quite a time for new clubs to build on the senior squad and get a junior side up and running.

"If you look at Teesside, for example, their average handicap is just over five, whereas ours is probably closer to ten bearing in mind that only playing in the school holidays mean ssome will be away and others doing part-time golf.

"All the matches are played without handicap allowance so it's basically from scratch, which means we can get to the start and already be at quite a heavy disadvantage.

"But it's more about giving the boys experience at playing other squads and encouraging them."

He added: "Things are improving, but it will take time because of the number of new clubs. But it is gradually getting better."

The squad ranges in age from 13 to 18 with most of the boys 16 or younger. It is not an exclusive boys' club either, although with most matches being played from the back tees, it may be some time before a female player shows the strength and low handicap needed to make the grade.

Squad selection is generally based on handicap, especially considering the strength of the other seven districts they play friendlies with.

"We try and keep them to as low a handicap as possible," said Bickerton. "The first seven of the ones who played against Teesside, for instance, averaged about five, but the remainder of them - the younger ones - were in the region of ten or 12."

At the moment, the YUGC junior squad concentrates solely on friendly matches. But, in time, it plans to link up with the league competition played in by six of the eight squads in the region.

Supported by the main union, the juniors are still a relatively new addition to the family after just ten years in existence. Their kit is paid for as are their travel costs, which have increased significantly in recent years with child protection and health and safety requirements dictating costly coach travel to away fixtures.

The juniors will next swing into action on Monday when they host Bradford at Easingwold. East Riding will visit Kirkbymoorside Golf Club on August 2, and away matches at Halifax and Huddersfield, and Harrogate, have also been scheduled for August 18 and 19.

SCARBOROUGH South Cliff duo Gary Dixon and Garry Thirkell will be piped in to the Scottish town of Kelso next Wednesday.

They are among 50 pairs of club golfers competing in the International Pairs at Roxburghe which starts with a civic procession led by the Duke of Roxburghe and a traditional Scottish pipe band.

CATH Hewerdine won Diana Hughes' Fulford Lady Captain's Day first prize with 40 stableford points, just edging home on the back nine from Pam Clancey, who took the President's prize.

THE inaugural Kirkbymoorside Men's Open is being held on Wednesday, August 18, with first to fourth prize tokens set at £500, £300, £200 and £100 for separate individual medal gross and net competitions.

Prize money has been supplied by Ryedale Garages, who are also putting up a Kia Rio car for a hole in one.

Andy Hampson is coordinating the entries through the club's pro shop. The event has already attracted players from Hartlepool and Humberside. He can be contacted on 01751 430402 for further details.

DRIVING towards the spiritual home of golf is the Forest Park GC pairing of Karen Hajba and Irene Hockley.

The duo won the North of England final of the Ladies Golf Union Peugeot Coronation Foursomes held at Arcot Hall in Northumberland. That put them into the grand final at St Andrews in September.

ENTRIES are still being taken for the Yorkshire Cancer Research club championship at Fulford GC on Wednesday, September 22.

Teams and individuals interested should contact Sally tel 01423 501269 or visit the website on www.ycr.org.uk/golf

Putting on a show

MORE than 140 golfers had the chance to get a few pointers from top PGA coaches in York city centre last weekend.

The second Bryant Homes and PGA Bringing Golf To You roadshow stopped off in Parliament Street on Saturday to offer expert tuition to everyone, from novices to handicapped golfers, on a giant 45ft game improvement centre.

Bryant Homes' Regional Managing Director, Alison Deakin, said: "The Bryant Homes Golf Roadshow was very popular in York and helped introduce golf to a whole new audience. The lessons were fully booked all day which means we are now one step closer to reaching our target of giving 10,000 beginners a cost free introduction to golf."

Updated: 10:38 Saturday, July 24, 2004