JUNIOR golf is booming and no more so than at Grange-over-Sand Golf Club, where the work done by head professional Andrew Pickering, has been recognised by Cumbria's golf administrators.

Andrew has just been asked to coach talented juniors in the south of the county up to under-21 level.

The request recognises the impressive strides made under Andrew's stewardship of Grange's junior section, which has quadrupled to almost 100 members in the past three years.

Regular coaching for juniors from seven-year-olds upwards has become a big feature at the club and has been supplemented by successful "Young Masters" initiatives.

"There's great satisfaction in seeing kids progress, but I honestly fear for my job when I see the talent that is coming through," says Andrew, who at 30 has represented Cumbria at all levels and still has all his competitive relish for tournament golf.

He has just returned from Quinta Do Lago South in Portugal, where he took the £500 prize for a fifth-place finish in the PGA North Region Overseas Pro-Am.

The Grange team, of which he was part, finished fourth, but Andrew's efforts in promoting junior golf remain particularly satisfying.

"We are very proud of what is happening at Grange, for which we have the full support of everyone at the club," he said.

Anyone interested in joining Grange's junior section can contact Andrew at the pro-shop (015395 359370).