GOLF STAR IAN POULTER MAKES

DREAM COME TRUE FOR

HERTFORD SCHOOLBOY SAM (10)

Golf-mad 10-year-old Sam Nicholls was given a 'slice' of stardom when Open Championship hopeful Ian Poulter took him for surprise coaching at Mill Green Golf Club.

Poulter - one of the UK's most flamboyant golfers - turned up unannounced at Sam's home in Bayford, near Hertford, as part of a day's filming for the Disney Channel, who had searched nationwide for a young golfer to feature ina programme with the Ryder Cup star.

Sam, a member of Mill Green's successful junior Tiger Club, was surprisedwhen Poulter, resplendent in all white golf gear, knocked on his door early in the morning.

He gave the 32-year-old golf fashion icon a tour of the family home, which included mowing the lawn, before going to Mill Green Golf Club for lunch and coaching on the club's par-3 course - where Sam's sisters acted as caddies.

And during the afternoon session, Sam and Ian disappeared at one point - only to return to the course in matching blue and white checked trousers, created especially by Poulter's own tailor, to complete the day's shoot for the TV programme, which will be shown in July.

Sam a pupil at Morgans School, in Hertford, said: "It's not every morningthat you answer the door to a famous person - it was a day I'll never forget. Ian was fun to be with, he's really cool and I had a brilliant time.

"The checked trousers he gave me were fantastic. But they ripped during filming and Ian said he'd get me a new pair made. He's very kind."

Sam, who plays off a handicap of 22 and wants to be a golf professional, is an active member of Mill Green's Tiger Club. The club was set up five years ago to teach four to 16-year-olds how to play golf and now has around 100 pupils under the guidance of head professional Ian Parker.

Said Ian Parker: "It was a real thrill to have Ian Poulter at the club. He gave Sam some pointers which he used in our junior training session later in the day. The day was amazing for Sam and his family and a great honour for all of us at Mill Green Golf Club."

Sam was completely at ease during the filming and caused much laughter when bursting into giggles and shouting 'cut' to the director during one take.

At the end of an exhausting but thrilling day, Sam presented Poulter with his very own Tiger Club membership certificate and golf bag tag, complete with a good luck message on the back. Said Poulter: "Sam's a fantastic kid and I was delighted to be able to spend some time with him. He clearly loves his golf and it was great to be able to give him a few hints and tips. We had a lot of fun filming."

Mill Green boasts both a challenging 18-hole lay-out and a nine-hole course, a golf shop, excellent practice and tuition facilities and equipment hire in addition to a bar and restaurant and function rooms perfect forsocial events and conferences.

The club is part of the Crown Golf group, the UK's largest golf course owner/operator with 33 properties in its portfolio and more than 50 courses.

With pride in customer service and innovation, it aims to provide anoutstanding golf experience for its members and visitors, tailor-made tosuit the lifestyles and needs of a wide range of golfers.