GOLFERS will be turning out in force on Thursday to honour one of North Yorkshire longest-serving greenkeepers.

Mark Mennell, 41, joined Fulford Golf Club's greens staff straight from leaving school and since then has worked his way up to become head greenkeeper, which he was appointed ten years ago.

And to mark his 25 years with the club, 200 people will be at York Racecourse's York and Ainsty Suite for a special sportsman's dinner.

And included among the throngs will be guest speaker Norman "Bite Yer Legs" Hunter, the former Leeds and England hardman.

Television personality Harry Gration, of BBC's Look North programme, will be the master of ceremonies and comedian Billy Bean is also due to take a turn.

The majority of the diners will be members of Fulford GC, although a fair few from Heworth GC - where Mark is himself a member - will also be there.

Mark, of Chestnut Avenue, Heworth, is a keen golfer himself, having seen his father play before him.

"I was a member at Heworth from the age of 14 and I just liked golf, and I wanted a job working outside," he said.

"The ideal opportunity came along and I've been here ever since."

The greenkeeper's job, however, has become harder over the years. "We're now getting more rain in the summer and less rain in warmer winters, and we're getting more grass growth," said Mark.

"I have noticed that the golf season is getting longer as golfers play more these days because of the warmer winters, which isn't always good for the grass.

"There is twice as much golf being played nowadays as there was 12 or so years ago, a lot of which is down to the warmer winters."

He added: "It means a bit more work for us but I play golf myself so I don't really mind.

"I enjoy every day of my work."

A TRIO of young golfers from Harrogate Golf Club won the national final of the British Heart Foundation junior golf championship.

From a starting line-up of 995 teams nationwide, the threesome of John Goodacre, Ben Tobin and Alisdair Gillies battled through to the final of the tournament held at the prestigious Belfry course in the Midlands which will host the Ryder Cup next year.

The trio finished with 72 points in the stableford competition to take the team trophy ahead of Charleston Academy and Pensby High School, from the Wirral.

SID Martin won Fulford Golf Club's October medal with a par round of 72, a fine achievement on a day on which rain fell incessantly and which caused very difficult conditions, resulting in the standard scratch going up from 72 to 74.

Ken Hessay, brother of club professional, Bryan, won Fulford's midweek medal with a four under par 68, taking first prize on a card countback after four players had come in with the same score. Hessay also had the lowest gross of 73.

FOREST Park's annual battle of the sexes saw the Ladies' Committee, led by lady captain Julie Ashton, beat the Men's Committee, led by club captain John Crossley.

PATRICIA Mitchell won Fulford Ladies' section's October medal with a one under par 73.

Mitchell was four shots ahead of Liz Jones, while in the bronze division Julia Gummery took the honours with a round of 78.

June Hut and Diane Hughes won Fulford's qualifying round for the Daily Mail foursomes with a 76 and now go on to a regional play-off.