Junior golfers are getting younger – just ask at the Chesfield Downs club at Graveley. Chesfield Downs is running Young Masters Golf (or YMG as it is better known), a junior coaching syllabus that is used by more than 600 clubs nationwide. The club s head

Junior golfers are getting younger - just ask at the Chesfield Downs club at Graveley.

Chesfield Downs is running Young Masters Golf (or YMG as it is better known), a junior coaching syllabus that is used by more than 600 clubs nationwide.

The club's head teaching professional Keith Bond said that more and more juniors are taking up golf at younger age.

Bond said: "Twenty years ago, the average age of a junior taking up the game was 13.

"Recent figures published by YMG have now shown that 30 per cent of all children learning through the YMG scheme are between nine and 10 years of age. The second most popular age group is the seven to eight with 24 per cent and then the 11-12 with 23 per cent."

Bond continued: "Golf for juniors offers more than just exercise and coaches more then just the swing. Golf is a game of honesty, trust and can offer great achievements.

"It coaches self-discipline, social skills, rules and etiquette and is fun at the same time.

"We now have children as young as four learning to play golf at Chesfield Downs."

The club run two schemes - the YMG for nine to 16-year-olds and their own Young Gun for four to eight-year-olds.

The YMG scheme has three themes in each lesson, a How To Play, Rule or Golf Knowledge and Etiquette.

There are eight stages to the entire programme. Each stage has eight one-hour lessons for £69.95 and includes a folder with all of the work notes.

The Young Gun scheme has been specifically designed for younger children in mind.

There are two levels, each level containing five stages. The lessons are 30 minutes long and cost £32 for eight lessons.

The next set of YMG and Young Gun lessons start during the first week of June.

To book your child on the next lessons or if you require any further information, contact Keith Bond or Henry Arnott on 01462 482929 or email keithbond285@msn.com

Chesfield Downs is also one of the first clubs in the country to introduce the 'Swingeye Pro' coaching system to its pupils.

Bond continued: "The Swingeye Pro is the best teaching aid I have ever seen."

The golf lesson should initially start by videoing the pupil's swing from different camera angles. The swings are then transferred to the laptop for analysis.

The professional will explain the changes needed to be made in either the set-up or swing before the introduction of the Swingeye Pro.

It is a pair of video glasses where the pupil can actually see their own swing in 'real time'.

The professional can insert lines, circles or a pro's position or whole swing.

Bond continued: "The pupil simply copies what he sees and feels it at the same time. Making adjustments to the swing is far easier than a conventional lesson.

"It is a fact that people retain 80 per cent of what they learn visually.

"This system allows pupils to combine visual recognition with the analysis of motion - during the actual swing!"

Chesfield Downs has three coaching professionals - Bond, senior PGA professional Henry Arnott and PGA professional Martyn Clarke - and all three use this system.

The cost of an individual 30-minute lesson is £25 or six 30-minute lessons for £125.

You can visit www.swingeye.com for more information.

Chesfield Downs also run 'Learn Golf' beginners' group coaching sessions for adults.

These are five one-hour lessons for £59.95 and run throughout year.

Call 01462 482929 for the next starting dates.