MOTTRAM Hall’s attached young playing professional Jamie Howarth is aiming high for the 2010 season after qualifying for the prestigious Alps Tour.

Jamie, who began his golf as a junior at Marple, had great success with Cheshire winning their matchplay championship and also enjoyed playing at Stockport Golf Club before turning professional two years ago.

One of the highlights of his career was qualifying for the Open Championship in 2008 at Royal Birkdale.

He has been attached to De Vere Mottram Hall for the past year.

Jamie has played in the Europro Tour but was delighted to make the top 35 in the Alps Tour Q School at Taranto in the south of Italy.

This put him into Category six for the tour and means that he can play in every one of their competitions.

Jamie said: "I’m really excited by qualifying for the Alps Tour which is well established and superbly organised.

"It begins at the end of February in Morocco and then has three events per month across Europe at a range of quality venues including Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Austria.

"The tour offers good prizes that go well down the order of results and joining me on the tour will be Lancashire’s Matthew Baldwin.

"I will also be looking to play in the Europro Tour and the Players Tour during the season when my commitments give me time so it looks to be a very hectic year ahead.

"I am looking for any sponsorship that people or businesses can help me with and anyone who thinks that they can help can contact me on 07845 913146."

Bert Thompson, the secretary of the Manchester and District Alliance, is urging local clubs to send in their entry forms for the Alliance’s big inter-club knock out competitions.

These include the Dunham Forest Trophy, the City Glass Men’s Foursomes, the Archie Preston Mixed Foursomes and the Williams BMW Junior Team competition.

There are well over 100 clubs in the Alliance and, at the latest count, more than half of them had responded with the closing date on January 16 and Bert has warned them that there will be no extensions to this date.

Local golfers can improve their knowledge of the sometimes complex rules of golf at two ‘Rules Schools’ being run by the English Golf Union in 2010.

They are aimed at club members and representatives who might already be involved in competitions at club or county level or for those who simply want to further their rules knowledge and gain EGU accreditation.

This follows from the EGU receiving a number of requests from golfers and club representatives asking how they can take the next steps towards becoming a qualified referee.

The ‘Rules Schools’ provide an opportunity for club staff and golfers to take advantage of a structured instruction programme delivered by highly qualified EGU Tournament Panel referees.

More details can be fund on the EGU website www.englishgolfunion.org or by calling 01526 354500

Winter golf is now in full flow and will continue at all clubs until next March.

To get your club and individual results, achievements and special events in this report contact Geoff Garnett on 0161 881 7550 or via email at ggggarnett@aol.com