But Henry Mountford from Wetherby has been accepted as Wetherby Golf Club’s youngest member at the tender age of seven because of his considerable ability.

Henry is a graduate of professional Mark Daubney's teaching academy having successfully passed the three stages that more than 140 young prospective golfers have followed for the past three years.

The youngster, who attends Ashville College in Harrogate, has been taught the etiquette of the game, the basic swing, driving with woods, using irons from the fairway, chipping to the green and how to putt.

He has been putting his new-found skills to the test on the 18-hole recently reconstructed 100-year-old course, accompanied by his father Jonathan and mother Helen.

Helen, who recently became a playing member herself, said the youngster simply cannot get enough of the game.

She said: “Henry loves golf and he’s always been interested in it. When he was very little we had some old golf clubs sawn down for him to practise with.

“It’s great that he’s so into it because we can all play together when we go on holiday. Henry can be on the green in two shots on some of the par three holes!”

Helen was featured among the winners at Wetherby Golf Club herself when she headed the third division in the Ladies June Medal playing at a handicap of 36.

And dad Jonathan has been a member of the club since his junior days and is among its current playing elite.

Jonathan can also claim to have had fifteen minutes of fame as a caddy for Wetherby golf professional Dave Padgett in the 1992 Open Championship at Muirfield.