In April, it was awarded a fantastic £10,000 from Awards for All, a lottery grants scheme, and to top it all, they have now been given the Golfmark/Clubmark award by the English Golf Union. The national accreditation is in recognition of the club's achievement working with its juniors in coaching and playing, club environment, child protection and duty of care.

This has all been made possible by a great deal of hard work from an enthusiastic team of club volunteers led by junior liaison officer Katie Macfarlane, the ladies section secretary Sue Brierley and volunteer member Ali Hansen.

The Awards for All money is being directed towards a specific project which will provide introductory and improvers' golf sessions for girls, who are under-represented in the sport, with the hope that they stay in the game.

The sessions will be provided by lady golf professional Linzi Hardy, with the assistance of club volunteers, also trained under the scheme.

Part of the award is being used to improve the practice facilities at Foxton, with the introduction of targets on the practice area, ball collecting machinery and a four-hole par three course, the most ambitious part of the project.

The short course will provide an exit route from the coaching by allowing the girls to progress from the practice area to the actual course.

After a great deal of effort by head greenkeeper, Jim Storey and his staff, the short course was opened last week in time for one of the regular junior coaching sessions. The juniors thoroughly enjoyed their first rounds of golf.

Alnmouth are also about to embark on a series of tri golf taster sessions at Hipsburn First School to ensure a succession of juniors through club.

The grant has now been further enhanced by the EGU Golfmark/Clubmark award, making Alnmouth the first club in the area to receive it.

It provides parents with reassurances that their child is joining a fun and friendly environment to enable their children's golf to flourish. If anyone is interested in any aspect of Alnmouth Golf Club, Foxton, contact Peter Simpson on 01665 830231.