The initiative, which carries an age limit of 13, is the brainchild of professional Steve Parry and Hart Common owner Peter Roberts with members based at the par three course which is part of the Westhoughton complex.
For a small annual fee the youngsters can play as often they want and there will be competitions every Saturday.
They will also receive a handicap assessed on scores over three rounds.
“We’re calling it the Young Lions,” said Parry. “I don’t know if it’s unique but I’ve never heard of a similar venture and we’re going to run it as a proper golf club.
“Part of my job will be to provide coaching but that’s not a condition of membership. It does not matter where they learn the game; we’re giving kids somewhere to play in a competitive environment.
“A lot of them pay as much as £70 for eight-week courses but they are only being taught how to hit the ball on a range and that’s not doing them much good in the long run.
“Few clubs cater for players under the age 13 and these boys and girls can start at six. The only stipulation is that they can get round nine holes.”
Parry stressed that the scheme was not to deter youngsters from joining elsewhere when they get older.
“I see the Young Lions as a conveyor belt for junior golfers moving on to bigger clubs. They don’t necessarily have to join Hart Common but I’m sure they’d be welcome wherever they went because they would already know about handicaps, course etiquette and competitions.”
Parry has also launched his own golf school for beginners. He described it as his Saturday job because he’s still determined to make it as player, despite just failing to gain his Asian Tour card last month.
And he proved his prowess by winning the latest Fylde Alliance with a nine-under-par score at Knott End.
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