A HIGHLY-RATED coach is intent on making sure the region produces the best group of young golfers it ever has after collecting a top award for his work.

Ross Jackson, from Darlington, has actively sought to attract and develop youngsters to the Ingleby Barwick Golf Academy where he is the PGA professional.

After helping more than 3,000 children have a taste of golf and a staggering 200 head for his academy for some coaching, Jackson was rewarded by the Golf Foundation by handing him the Bonallack Award; the first North-Easterner to ever claim the honour.

The 31-year-old received the prize at Wentworth after efficiently effectively creating a project that has demonstrated successful pathway from schools into club membership.

England Golf is driving for more clubs to push junior golf, amid fears that there will be a decline in memberships and club golf in the decades to come. Jackson’s work clearly assists that.

Not just that, though, Jackson feels the bulk of the school boys and girls aged between 6 and 12 are showing signs of real talent.

“It’s hugely important for golf that we keep introducing more players,” said Jackson. “and not all of them will keep playing, while others will.

“We have had some who have just dipped their toe in and others who keep coming. We want to make golf enjoyable for them all.

“If the kids we have keep progressing as they are then I am certain this will be the best crop of juniors to have ever come out of the North-East. That’s how good they are.

“If I could look into a crystal ball and see into the next ten years then I’d be pretty confident there will be some real talent out there from the golfers we have.

“We have kids coming from Ingleby Barwick, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Darlington, Middlesbrough … all over the region really, and it’s great to see them come on as they are.”

The Ingleby Barwick Academy hosted 54 junior competitions last year and memberships have gone from 20 to 60. “There’s not enough hours in the day now,” joked Jackson. “But I really enjoy it and winning the award is a real honour, not just for me but everyone who has supported us.”

The Golf Foundation is a national charity aiming to help young people enjoy the benefits of the game and the way Jackson has spread the word has impressed the Foundation hugely.

Brendon Pyle, the Foundation’s chief executive, said: “Ross started it from scratch two years ago. Since then more than 3,000 children have had a taste of golf at school and 200 of them have been coached at this academy.

“In addition, the academy hosted 54 junior competitions last year; a junior teeing system was devised; and juniors were given their own area of the club’s bistro to hang out, play games and have fun.”

Pyle was talking after the Golf Foundation’s Presidents’ Awards night when Jackson was honoured. It was supported by the European Tour and held in the Wentworth Club’s ballroom.

Jackson’s scheme also works with the Stockton School Partnership and Tees Valley Sport, with the aim to have junior memberships swell to 100 by the end of 2016.

“I am just by myself at the moment but we are looking at bringing another coach in and we have huge scope to expand,” said the former Stressholme and Blackwell Grange assistant pro, who is also looking to create his own golf charity.

“It’s been a big collective effort since I left Blackwell/Stressholme in 2014, having spent something like ten years there. I still live over in Darlington now and travel over to Ingleby and it’s been really enjoyable even if hard work.”