There are parents and grandparents all over the world fighting the good fight in terms of persuading youngsters there is fun beyond the indoor virtual version on mobile phones and social media.

So, at a time when Astbury Golf Club have a waiting list for new adult male members and have no need to offer enticements to join, they deserve everybody's admiration for an excellent incentive in abolishing subscriptions for under-14s.

Given the generally accepted age for starting to play golf is seven, this means seven years of free subs at one of the most beautiful courses in the UK blessed with top notch clubhouse facilities.

The scheme was set up specifically to combat the lure of computer games and iPhones and encourage youngsters to engage in physical activity.

Astbury junior members in this age range pay a one-off joining fee of £50 plus the England Golf and Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs affiliation fees totalling £15.25.

After that it is free to play, apart from the annual affiliation fees.

Astbury club chairman Phil Richards said: "It's a good idea. We feel we are encouraging youngsters to put down their phones and tablets and come out of the house, enjoy the fresh air and have a go at golf.

"This gives them the opportunity to meet new friends and enjoy the camaraderie offered by our junior section as well as competing against other youngsters.

"Our youngsters get along so well with each other at Astbury the atmosphere among them is very much like the attitude you will find in team sports."

The idea has been welcomed by Cheshire East councillor Liz Wardlaw, who lives in Astbury.

Following a 35-year career as an NHS nurse, Cllr Wardlaw recently came out of retirement to help with the vaccination programme.

"This is a fabulous initiative," she said. "I believe all sport can teach us so many things and help with our mental and physical fitness.

"Teaching our children the benefits and fun of exercise while they are young will have a positive lifelong effect on their health.

"It reduces their risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

"Sport also helps maintain good mental health allowing space and time for mindfulness.

"Golf offers the young and the less young the fantastic combination of fresh air and personal challenge.

"Removing the barrier of expensive subscription will hopefully encourage more young people to come to Astbury to try the sport and enjoy the facilities at this wonderful club."

Astbury are among the UK clubs relaxed about juniors playing in adult competitions.

Recently a 13-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy teamed up to take third place in a Ping mixed betterball stableford with 40 points.

The club's temporary halt to finding room for new adult male members is a result of the boom in outdoor sports following the lifting of lockdowns.

Astbury want to maintain a healthy ratio between the sexes while ensuring their course does not become over-crowded.

Juniors and lady members are still welcome to sign up for annual membership.

Golfers in the age ranges of under-17, under-16 and under-15 pay the one-off joining fee of £50 with an annual subscription of £188 plus the affiliation fees.

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TWO former captains of the men's and ladies sections at Congleton Golf Club, husband and wife John and Gwyneth Garside, sadly are no longer with us.

However, their memory lives on through a family dynasty of golfers well known in the area and their grandson, 17-year-old Alfie Oakes, has just signed for the lowest gross score in this year's Crewe Junior Open.

Had Alfie been humming to himself the words "when the going gets tough the tough get going" during his round of 76, it would have been appropriate.

Five over par it may have been but there was no shame in that score for a player with a current 3.7 handicap on a day briefly sunny but mainly bringing foul weather.

Strong winds, rain and hail meant that many of the spectators were wearing shorts while carrying umbrellas.

A former pupil at Biddulph High School, Alfie is now studying for a national foundation diploma in golf studies at Myerscough College in Preston.

He said: "I would like a career in golf because I love the sport so much.

"Exactly what that is going to be is something I am not sure about yet, so I am keeping my options open."

Alfie's mum, Joanne Garside-Moxon, returned to the Congleton club as caterer last month, a role she last filled almost ten years ago.

His brother, Tom Johnson, 26, is a scratch golfer and the current Congleton club champion although he is now a member of Astbury.

Tom, who works in recruitment, used to be a student at Lee Westwood's Cheshire academy.

Joanne's husband, Nigel Moxon, is a former Congleton captain and she said: "It's like I have never been away.

"The clubhouse is really busy and it's great to be back. I am not a golfer myself, but the sport and Congleton Golf Club is in the family bloodline."

Congleton Golf Club chairman Paul Bennett said: "Joanne puts her heart into all her dishes and her heart is also in the golf club. What more can you ask?

"The answer to that question of course is good food and she certainly delivers on that score."

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INEVITABLY we are still talking about Phil Mickelson two weekends after he became the first golfer aged 50 or over to win a men's major.

There is a great question answered here: Does Phil The Thrill rank among the all-time top ten of golfing greats?

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FOR more information on the golf clubs this column covers every Saturday morning, visit Astbury and Congleton's websites.

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Tom Avery of timmyteepr is a former national newspaper staff sports reporter and sub-editor who is now chief writer for the online golf magazine Exclusive Golf & Travel.

He is a member of the Association of Golf Writers, the Football Writers Association and the Cricket Writers Club.