THE likes of Laura Davies and Tiger Woods had to start somewhere and the pitch and putt course of Towneley Park is as good a place as any for youngsters to pick up a club for the first time.

And while a T-shirt as a first prize is a far cry from the mega bucks the professionals are getting, there was no doubting the enjoyment young golfers got from taking part in the Splash 99 junior mini golf tournament.

The event attracted 14 budding golfers who played two rounds of the nine hole pitch and putt course at Towneley Park where youngsters had to negotiate bunkers, rough and show their putting skills on the greens.

And prizes were awarded to the top boy and girl while certificates were handed out to all youngsters who took part in the event which took two hours to complete.

And players to watch for the future are Paul Scott and Toni-Anne Wilkinson who beat off the competition to take first place.

The mini golf tournament is part of Splash 99 which is a Burnley Council run initiative allowing children to take part in a full range of sporting and leisure activities throughout the summer.

The golf tournament was organised and supervised by Burnley Rangers.

Sue Whitehead, co-ordinator of Splash 99 said: "Golf is just one of a number of sports we offer children the chance to have a go at. The event has been running for a number of years now and is becoming increasingly popular as it offers a wide range of activities from mountain biking to rock climbing as well as day trips to interesting places.

"I think what children like about Splash most is that they can take part in sport but have fun at the same. And from our point of view we are given children the chance to compete in a sport they otherwise would not compete in and could continue to do so in the future."

Splash 99 finishes on Saturday and for further details of events currently taking place, phone the Splash hotline on 01282 415527.

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