FOREST Hills Golf Club has been awarded the GolfMark accreditation for high achievers.

The club was notified that they had got the accreditation, which is the result of eight months' hard work, on December 8.

The English Golf Union (EGU) and English Women's Golf Association (EWGA) developed the GolfMark award to recognise clubs with outstanding junior policies.

The GolfMark award also integrates Sport England's ClubMark award – a national standard for quality sports clubs recognised across the country.

Forest Hills owner Alison Breton said: "GolfMark has made us think about developing policies for junior golf. It's the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people and it's very rewarding. It will enable us to access funding so we can put on some free sessions for absolute beginners."

GolfMark evaluates golf clubs in three areas: coaching and playing, club environment and child protection.

Alison added: "Only seven per cent of our members are juniors, but they are so keen. In the holidays they are here all the time.

"We had one player, Jamie Dick, picked for the county this season, while our club champion for the past three years has been a junior (Lee Ayres)."

Alison and husband Ed took over Forest Hills last year.

They previously ran the Old Cranleighan Sports Club in Thames Ditton, London.

Stuart Archibald is the Forest Hills professional responsible for most of the junior coaching.