MORE than 30 under-11s had their first experience of competitive golf as the Skipton Golf Academy organised its first tournament.

Using shortened tees to avoid difficult drives on the course at Skipton, they were able to put into practice the skills acquired on courses subsidised by the Academy.

The Academy was set up by Skipton Golf Club and has been given a boost by a £250 grant from NatWest bank. Funds are also raised from male members at the golf club, who contribute to a voluntary levy of 50p each time they enter an individual competition.

The academy aims to introduce youngsters to the game with subsidised courses from PGA professional Ben Mallinson. More than 50 have been given lessons this year. They do not have to be members of the golf club but previous courses have produced several golfers who now have single figure handicaps and could emerge as top talent for the future.

"The accent is on under-11s and giving them a grounding in the sport," said spokesman Richard Addyman. "There is also an emphasis on encouraging girls to take up the sport."

Golf has gone a long way to shed its fuddy-duddy image and Skipton is at the forefront of clubs which encourage juniors. It is one of only a few which allows juniors to compete in adult events, including major trophies.

Major pop stars and celebrities have taken up the sport and children are seeing it as more fashionable than they might in the past.

"The members at Skipton have been hugely supportive of junior golf," said Addyman.

"One of the problems for children though is the difficulty in finding facilities and getting started so the academy provides a safe environment in which they can learn the basics in peace. Once they have basic skills they can get started playing the course here at Skipton."

Officials of the academy have all attended courses in child protection.

The club is currently building a new hole, which will be exclusively for junior coaching purposes.

Results of the junior academy competition were:

10 and 11-year-old boys: Luke England 31; Tom Convery 33; Michael O'Rourke 35; George England 37; James Badge 38; Joe Brown 41; Henry Badge 41; James Spencer 43; Luke Watson 45.

Eight and nine-year-old boys: Nicholas Woodhead 27; Thomas Knapton 32; James Laycock 33; Matthew Wharfe 37; Warwick Harrison 38; Cameron Latter 38; Henry Oldfield 43; Edward Wilman 43; William Shuttleworth 44; Kieran North 46; Edward Horner 48; Ben Walton 49.

Seven-year-old and under Boys: Robert Nesbitt 41; Matthew Shuttleworth 43; Herbe Wilman 47; Jacob Leigh 48; Sam Walton 49; Gregor Myles 49.

10 and 11-year-old girls: Sophie Myles 37; Jessica Holden 43; Alexandra Redfern 46.

8 and 9-year-pld girls: Lydia Doherty 44; Eleanor Addyman 47; Kate Leeming 48

Putting Competition: Luke Watson 14; Luke England 15; Tom Convery 15; Thomas Knapton 15; Michael O'Rourke 16; George England 16; James Badge 16; Edward Wilma 16; Lydia Doherty 16; Sophie Myles 17; Kate Leeming 17; Matthew Shuttleworth 17; Herbe Wilman 17; Alexandra Redfern 18; Nicholas Woodhead 18; Cameron Latter 18; Henry Oldfield 18; Eleanor Addyman 18; James Spencer 19; Matthew Wharfe 19; Edward Horner 19; Jessica Holden 20; Kieran North 20; Henry Badge 21; Joe Shuttleworth 21; Jacob Leigh 21; William Shuttleworth 22; Ben Walton 22; Sam Walton 22; Gregor Myles 22.