YORK-BORN golf professional Guy Wills has returned to his homeland to be at the helm of the area's newest club.
Wills has been appointed professional at the Flaxby Park Golf and Country Club, the new 27-hole course located in between York and Harrogate, which has its official opening next week.
For the past four years Wills has been in Germany, where he has been working as a teaching professional at two clubs - initially at Golf Club am Donnersberg and then Golf Club Schloss Miel, near the one-time East Germany capital of Bonn.
Of his return to Blighty Wills enthused: "I'm looking forward to returning to Yorkshire and becoming head professional at Flaxby Park.
"It's a fantastic opportunity. Flaxby Park is going to be a great championship course with outstanding facilities."
A former pupil of St Peter's School, Wills began his golf career at Boothferry Park GC in North Humberside before moving back to York to become a Professional Golfers' Association assistant professional at Fulford GC under the watchful eye of former club pro' Bryan Hessay.
It was under Hessay's tutelage that Wills first showed a early flair for teaching.
He was responsible for introducing the Heslington Lane club's junior section into the Golf Foundation, a charitable organisation which supports the development of junior golf.
In Germany he continued to develop his teaching skills and in 2003 spent time working personally with the acclaimed coach David Leadbetter, the man who helped to guide Nick Faldo to world dominating heights. Wills subsequently qualified as a certified 'David Leadbetter Instructor'.
"I really enjoy helping people to improve their golf and enjoyment of the game," he said.
The appointment of Wills was hailed by Flaxby Park's operations director, Ian Russell-Jarvie.
He said: "Our aim is to make Flaxby Park a centre of golfing excellence. Guy is a young, highly motivated professional with an excellent teaching pedigree who can help us achieve that aim."
The club's 18-hole championship course opens next Wednesday, while a nine-hole academy course and 24-bay floodlit driving range is due to open in 2005 as is an associated four-star hotel and spa.
Since announcing it was opening membership is already full at the club which is aiming to become one of the premier golf clubs and leisure venues in the North of England.
The club is situated just off the York to Harrogate road beyond the roundabout turnoff to the A1.
Designed by leading golf architect David Hemstock, the course features more than 15,000 newly-planted trees, ten lakes and nearly 100 bunkers.
Visitors' green fees have been set at £25 per round, £35 per day during the week and £35 per round, £47 per day at weekends.
Anyone interested in joining the membership waiting list or booking a corporate golf day can call Ian Russell-Jarvie on 01423 339911 or email enquiries@flaxbyparkgolf.com
A HOME triumph was just shaded in Kilnwick Percy GC's Am-Am Open.
The quartet of Carol and David Kilford and Viv and Alan Howson totalled 147 but were just pipped by the Willow Valley GC team of S Williams, L Harwood, P West and B Wood.
Honours in the club's first summer Senior Open also went to visitors with Cottingham's Pete and Joe Madden taking the 'Sprightly Lads' title winning on count-back from J Harris and M Gibson (Immingham) after both pairings had totalled 37 points. The Likely Lads' honour went to M King and T Petersen (Hessle GC) on 40 points.
In the club's June medals Neil Atkinson won division one with a nett 69 off a handicap of 16 to pip Lee Eastoe (nett 70) and Mark Gatenby (71).
The ladies' event was won by Linda Pink with a nett 62 (10-under) to trim her handicap to 32. Linda Johnson (nett 70) was second on count-back from Sue Hodgson.
RAW emotion greeted Geoff Hawkins' Fulford Captain's Day. The winner was Brian Raw with 43 stableford points with Steve Dunn heading the best gross scores with a one-under-par 71.
FOREST of Galtres GC's veterans' salver for the over-55s was won by 17-handicapper Bill Leslie. His 43 points tally was one better than nearest challenger John Corby (20 handicap).
LARRY Murray edged out closest rival Ian Winters with a better back nine after both posted a nett 64 to win the Captain's prize at Forest Park GC.
Scot the lot
TAKING the high road - hopefully to more success - will be the Selby GC duo of Eileen Tuer and Marcia Kirkman.
Eight-handicapper Tuer and her partner, who plays off 18, headed the challenge of 25 other pairs to reach the semi-final of the International Pairs tournament to take place at a top Scottish course.
If the duo progress further they will stay on at Scotland for two more days during which they will compete at the renowned Cardrona Hotel Golf and Country Club in the grand final, which will also be televised by Sky Television.
The International Pairs tournament is reckoned to be the largest of its kind in the world and is now in its sixth year of running.
Updated: 10:00 Saturday, June 26, 2004
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