A NEW initiative has been launched to enable the island’s top prospects to realise their potential fully.

The Guernsey Golf Development Squad was unveiled on Saturday by the Guernsey Golf School, with its purpose to help further develop the elite-player pathway.

It has the support of the Guernsey Golf Union, as well as corporate partner ABN Amro, and will work to the philosophy: ‘To have a complete plan of development for the most talented/promising junior golfers aged between six and 16 in the island and to offer a goal for all young players to work toward becoming involved with’.

Following an 18-month period watching golfers at all the island’s clubs, the initial invitation to become part of the initiative has gone out to 17 youngsters, who will be working with head PGA qualified golf pofessionals Phil Sykes and Matt Groves along with a fitness team led by Ashley Carter of the La Grande Mare Gym.