Lytham pair can see the big picture

Lytham duo Phil Smitham and Simon Williamson will tee off at this week's Golfplan Insurance PGA Pro-Captain Challenge north west qualifying event with one eye on the club’s future.

More than 60 duos will contest the qualifier at Dunham Forest Golf Club, Cheshire, on August 26, aiming to win a place in the final in Spain.

And while that is the pair’s immediate objective, Smitham, the Lytham (Green Drive) Golf Club captain, shares the club’s policy of making sure young players are made welcome.

To that end, under-12s are being offered free membership and there is an indoor teaching studio with up-to-date equipment. 

“What we want to do is offer youngsters a gateway into the club,” said Smitham, a civil servant, who played off 11.

“One of our junior coaches came up with the idea of getting them involved. And the interest is increasing.

"We’ve seen what other clubs are doing in the area and we want to be a part of it.

“Simon is a very experienced coach as well as being our PGA Professional.”

Smitham is hoping to help Williamson go one better than he did in 2014 when, playing with the then captain, Vincent Donohoe, he missed out on a place in the final by two shots.

That was also played at Dunham Forest and Smitham added: “They had to settle for second place that day.

“It’s difficult when only one team goes through but I haven’t been playing too badly this year so I hope we can go one better.” 

This year’s final, which carries a £25,000 prize fund, will be contested over one of the two Greg Norman designed-courses at Lumine Mediterranea Beach & Golf Community at the end of November.

Other pairs at Dunham Forest hoping to book their place in the final are:  Craig Daggitt and Stephen Williams (Bramall Park);  David Wheeler and  Paul Wilkinson (Crewe);  Ian Taylor and Neil Giles (Fleetwood);  Andrew Greenbank and John Fletcher (Preston); Jason O’Brien and Michael Wyatt  (Widnes);  and Tony Stevens and Keith Worrall  (Davenport).