Michael Brooks relishing new

challenge in Yorkshire

Former Walker Cup Scot Michael Brooks from Carluke is getting his teeth into a new challenge at Malton & Norton Golf Club, Yorkshire - and loving every minute of it!

The 37-year-old took up the role after Steve Robinson's departure in December, and already he is putting a number of plans into place.

Brooks' main aim is to boost the club's standing in the local community by introducing demo days and tasting sessions, but he is also planning to get back into the swing of it on the course in a bid to recapture some of the form that gave him a successful amateur career in the 1990s.

Brooks was one of four Scots in the GB&I team for the Walker Cup match at Quaker Ridge, New York State in 1997. The late Barclay Howard, Craig Watson and Graham Rankin were the others. The United States won 18-6. Brooks partnered a young Justin Rose in the first session of fousomes and lost 5 and 4. Mind you GB&I lost all the opening foursomes to trail 0-4 at lunch on the first day.

Michael Brooks' father Andrew also turned pro after playing in the Walker Cup match at Milwaukee in 1969 when the Americans won 10-8.

Speaking about his new post at Malton & Norton Golf Club, Michael Brooks said:

"It is a fantastic new challenge for me. Malton is not only seen as a great club in Yorkshire, but also the whole of the North of England. I have been made to feel very welcome by everyone at the club and, after a time of getting settled in, I am really looking forward to getting going.]

"There are 900 members down here, each of whom gets very involved, which is great for the club.

"I will be aiming to take the club out into the community by setting up a junior golf academy, as well as hosting demo and taster days for anyone who is interested in taking up the sport. Golf can be seen as an elitist game but that's not the way I see it.

"We have some fantastic facilities here, including 27 holes and a driving range, so we are trying to encourage people, members or not, in the local community to come and try it out."

Michael Brooks made the switch to Malton from Isle of Man club Castletown, which followed on from assistant roles at Royal St George's in Kent and hometown club Carluke.

He added: "I spent two years at Castletown, which was great, but I fancied a change. I didn't get a lot of time to play golf over there. When I get settled here I will be hoping to get back into it and be competitive.

"There is plenty to get stuck into when the summer arrives, such as all the Open qualifiers and the like. I'll be easing my way back because I am a bit out of the habit.

"I did have a good time as an amateur, representing Scotland in everything, winning the Scottish Champion of Champions and travelling all over Europe. I played in the Walker Cup, the Eisenhower Trophy and the St Andrew's Trophy as well.

"After turning professional in 1998 I gave myself three years to get onto the tour. That didn't happen and I decided to take my PGA qualifications. I have been playing the game for as long as I can remember. All I know is playing golf, it is a game I really love."