MANCHESTER golfers no longer need to leave the city centre if they want to hit a few balls at lunch-time or unwind at the end of a busy day at the office.

The country's biggest indoor centre, which opens on Friday, includes six state-of-the-art simulators, putting and chipping greens and even a bunker.

Golftorium, a pitching wedge from Piccadilly Station in Ducie Street, houses the latest coaching technology operated by PGA professionals Mark Marriott and Joanne Bates.

The project, developed by Marriott and father and son George and Craig Woodward, also provides the chance to play more than 50 top championship courses.

Craig, 37, said: "The simulators are the most accurate in the world, tracking the true ball flight so the player gets the most critical information he's looking for."

Marriott has worked alongside some of the world's top coaches such as Peter Cowen, Graham Walker and Butch Harmon and has Mark has been head professional at Morley Hayes in Derbyshire for eight years.

Joanne, 31, who has worked as a teaching assistant at Royal Birkdale and Hillside, said: "The indoor academy means you can play, practice and learn golf all year round. There's even a custom fit centre and a relaxation areas and two bars."

ROMILEY professional Matthew Ellis bids to increases his 110-point lead in the PGA North Region Mansell Finishes Winter Pro-am Series order of merit at Royal Liverpool on Tuesday.

He shared first prize with nearest challenger Simon Edwards, from Windermere, in the opening event at Hillside and was joint third at West Lancs last week. But he can expect some tough competition from several former European Tour players in a 56-stong line-up, among them Paul Eales, Andrew Murray and Nick Ludwell.