NEW PGA in Hampshire captain Andrew Cloke intends to embrace his role to the full in the coming months and get his game back on track.

Attached to Basingstoke’s Weybrook Park, the 33-year-old from Old Basing is relishing the chance to play courses near and far.

He said: “I intend to make a speech at every tournament throughout the year. That is my plan, to play as much as I can.

“I am not just there, though, from a playing point of view. The pros will see me representing them and the association. Some weeks there will be two or three tournaments, maybe a fourth. It is a big commitment but it is an honour.

“Hopefully I will play some decent golf this year and pick up a few wins. The last couple of years I have struggled a bit, which is disappointing. I just want to enjoy myself.”

Cloke would love to see more members to taking part in their competitions and said: “We have about 120 pros. It is about trying to encourage them to play and if they are not playing, finding why that is.

“Most of them are club based but some want to play on the EuroPro Tour. It is very difficult on tour. You need to be picking up good money each week as the expenses are so high.

“If you are struggling from the off, it won’t take long for the money to dry up. The Hampshire region is a very high standard.”

It is a hard school as Cloke, who was 14 when he first swung a club, explained: “With the trainees that come through, they are required to play a minimum of seven events a year for a playing record.

“Trainee numbers have started to drop off recently, mainly because of fees and the cost of going through training. Also, it is quite hard to move up the ladder”

But he added: “Golf is a great sport for youngsters to be involved in as it teaches them self-discipline. At Weybrook Park they have junior groups and there are quite a few young people as well, comprising both boys and girls.”