BURNLEY golf club are looking for the next Laura Davies, Karrie Webb or Sophie Gustafson.

The Glen View club believe there is a well of untapped talent in the area and junior organiser Bernie Wilson says there has never been a better time for girls to take up the sport as there are now no restrictions on women at the club.

"The barriers have been broken down," said Wilson. "Women have the same rights as men at Burnley. They can play when they want and they don't have to give male players priority.

"There used to be a snobby aspect to the game but there are more working people playing the game now than ever.

"And at Burnley women and the juniors can play when they want. The kids have the run of the course.

"We only ask, of course, that the juniors follow course etiquette. If there are senior members coming up behind them they usually just let them play through.

"There was a time when they were to be seen and not heard but not anymore.

"We have about 30 juniors and it is the best youth club you could imagine.

"There are a band of 15 to 18-year-olds that you never see away from the place, they play that regularly.

"And we now have matches arranged and inter-club trophies. There are junior leagues in Pendle and Blackburn."

Wilson said girls should not be put off from coming down to the club simply because they don't have a set of clubs.

"If someone came down for an introduction we could find a club or two to start with but our pro does really cheap starter sets for juniors.

"You don't need a lot of equipment. For £30 or £40 you can get a starter set, and a pair of junior golf shoes costs about £15.

"It is easy to get started."

But Wilson said it was difficult to get girls interested, despite the fact that golf is one of the few sports woman can make big money playing.

"If you look at the world standings for the golf, the leaders are earning millions.

"And if the boys want to look at a good swing they watch the women pros because their swings tend to be smooth and rhythmic.

"But very few girls play golf here. Some dads bring their daughters down when they are around 12 but they tend to drift off because they find there are 1,000 other things to do. We have openings for girls and boys and they can come down any time. The pro can take them on to practice and show them around the course.

"Girls will be welcomed with open arms because we need some good junior golfers in this area. If they can come along at a young age I know they will enjoy the game."

Primary schools are being invited to contact the club as there are grants and golf kits available from the Golf Foundation.