MAX Clarke has set out his stall for the year after being named a golf club’s junior captain.

The 15-year-old is a relative newcomer to golf, with only having taken to the fairways at Wilmslow Golf Club in 2022.

But the Manchester Grammar School student has made rapid progress with his handicap now 8.7 and he is delighted to be the junior captain at Wilmslow for the coming year.

“I have been playing golf for the last two years and there are a number of highlights already but the one that stands out is when I was asked to represent Wilmslow Golf Club at Royal Birkdale,” said Clarke.

“My 2024 ambition is to reduce my handicap (improve my putting!), encourage more juniors onto the course and play a variety of courses across the country.

“It is really encouraging to see the number of juniors that have taken up the sport, great to see the popularity among younger players and I will look to be helping the junior section grow and develop at Wilmslow in the coming year as well as working hard on my own game.”

He knows he would not have reached the level he is already at without support.

Clarke added: “There are a number of people who have supported me to date but I would like to pay special thanks to Andrew Henshall for his commitment to the Wilmslow juniors, organising matches and opportunities to play at different courses; and Richard Eyre for his patience and guidance through coaching.”

He has an icon that he looks up to and takes inspiration from.

“My golfing idol would be Tommy Fleetwood, a local golfer to the area, positive attitude, and a swing I would love to be able to recreate,” he said.