AN apprentice green keeper's career is on course after securing a job at a leading east Cleveland club.

James Keeling recently started work at Hunley Hotel and Golf Club, in Brotton, where he helps maintain the 29-hole golf course.

The 19-year-old, from Marske, joins a team of six experienced green keepers with responsibility for maintaining the 240 acre site.

He said: “I don’t play golf but I’ve always enjoyed working outdoors and working on a golf course is much more interesting than other jobs of this type.

“Obviously there’s all the usual maintenance you would expect but the standards are so much higher because of the playing surface requirements.

“We’re doing quite a lot of reconstruction and drainage work, particularly on the bunkers and I’m learning lots from my workmates.”

The unusual 29-hole layout is set up to offer an 18 hole and nine hole course with a variety of layouts that change daily giving greater variation to members.

Greg Fitzmaurice, golf course manager, said it also allows the green keepers flexibility to maintain the courses.

He said: “It means there’s often a lot to do but James has already proved to be an excellent worker and a great addition to the team.”

The teenager has been supported into his new role by Redcar and Cleveland Borough council’s routes to employment scheme.

Councillor Mark Hannon, cabinet member for economic development, said: "The Routes to Employment team does an outstanding job in helping young people into the world of work and this is another great example of the opportunities that are out there for young people.”