Cookridge Hall Golf Club has become the first club in Yorkshire to be registered as a Golf Roots centre by the Golf Foundation. This follows on from the club being the first in Yorkshire and the North East of England to be presented with the GolfMark Award.These awards show that Cookridge Hall is one of the foremost centres for developing young golfers in the country.

Golf Roots centres are part of a national initiative to develop playing and personal skills amongst young people.

In conjunction with the School Sports Partnership at Carr Manor High School, Paul O’Donnell, PGA professional at Cookridge Hall, is giving free golf tuition to over 2,000 eight-year-olds in primary schools in 2009-2010.

As the only Community Golf Coach in Leeds Paul is at the forefront of the expansion of school links at Cookridge Hall. He now has a group of volunteers, who help him in schools and with the out of school coaching. This ensures that as many youngsters as possible are able to benefit.

A group of 90 primary school pupils were invited to Cookridge Hall for a fun day of golf activities. They had a thoroughly enjoyable time and many of them have now joined the School of Excellence in the Academy at Cookridge Hall and will hopefully progress through the club’s Tigers Section to become golf club members.

There are also good links with local High schools, with Ralph Thoresby, Allerton High, Carr Manor and Horsforth School all involved in the Cookridge Hall Academy.

If you want your child to get involved or need anymore information about the Academy or junior golf at Cookridge Hall contact the club on 0113 2300641.