FOUR of the region's top professional golf instructors went back to school at Ramside Hall, County Durham, last week to learn how to bring the game to youngsters.

Patricia Smiley of Wilton Golf Club, Marcus Webb of Bedlingtonshire Golf Club, Gary Shipley of Whitley Bay Golf Club and Robert Lister of Ramside Hall Hotel and Golf Club practiced with mini plastic golf clubs and oversized, foam golf balls as part of their training to become regional co-ordinators for Extra Golf.

Extra Golf is an initiative being piloted in the North East to bring 'tri-golf' to primary schools across the region. It is a safe, fun introduction to golf and works along the same principles as short tennis or kwik cricket.

The four regional co-ordinators will act as the main contact point for Extra Golf, helping to set up links with local schools and co-ordinate coaching programmes in conjunction with local sports development officers and active sports partnership managers.

The Golf Foundation, as part of the England Junior Golf Partnership, is working alongside Regional Development Agency, One NorthEast and Sport England to deliver Extra Golf across the North East.