Astbury Golf Club has become the latest signatory to the R&A's Women in Golf Charter.

It is the first Cheshire club to have pledged to drive participation among women and girls as well as encouraging more females to play and pursue a career within the golf industry.

In keeping with the founding principles of the charter, Astbury Golf Club said it would "continue to make strides" towards further developing a "welcoming and inspiring" environment for all women and girls at the club.

The club has already produced two lady PGA professionals in Lauren Oleksik and Vicki Willdig.

The club received the backing and full support of England Golf – the governing body for the amateur game in the country.

It will provide assistance via its network of club support officers to enable the club to develop and expand their policy in the months and years to come.

The club has also appointed a charter champion to help co-ordinate the development of the plan to boost the numbers of women and girls involved in golf.

Linda Stevens, current lady vice-captain and charter champion, has been a member of the club for 11 years and is looking forward to leading the club's Women in Golf campaign.

The charter was introduced in 2018 by the R&A with the full backing of England Golf.

In October 2020, the initiative was given further impetus with the launch of the #FOREeveryone campaign.

The campaign begins with the distribution of a toolkit resource, designed to provide guidance on operational and marketing improvement to help attract more women and girls to the sport.

The club's Dominic McAllister said: "Astbury Golf Club is now ready to contribute actively towards commitments that can change the culture of golf to the benefit of all of those who play and love the sport."