GAUDET Luce Golf Club sounds like it should be nestled away in the Roman hills but fortunately for Worcestershire golfers it can be found slightly nearer to home on the outskirts of Droitwich.

The name is taken off a farmhouse on the course and is from an old family farming motto that means rejoice in the day.

And certainly the club's progress over the last few years has given members something to sing about.

One of the club's strongest features is its junior section.

In days gone by youngsters were often given short thrift in the golfing world with many clubs doing little to encourage children taking up the game.

Times and attitudes have changed and nowhere is this more evident than at Gaudet Luce.

The Droitwich club, which started as a nine hole course in the mid 90s before becoming 18, actively embraces its 60 strong junior section and even gives free lessons during the summer holidays plus junior classes on a Sunday mornings.

And conditions are about to improve even further for the club's youngsters as the owners prepare to build a special room just for them complete with table-tennis table and a pool table.

But in case you get the idea the club is totally dedicated to its younger element, senior members are also to benefit next year with plans for a new covered driving range and nine-hole par three course.

The course is owned by the Little Lakes Company who own a holiday park near Bewdley and members get free membership of the Little Lakes Golf Course near Bewdley.

The course itself is set in around 150 acres of land and is a typical parkland course with thousands of trees dotted around the course.

Golfers will find the front nine a lot more open than the back nine, which is a lot tighter and more mature with water.

Three new holes are being created to facilitate the creation of the driving range and new water features will be introduced.

Club pro, Phil Cundy, has been at Gaudet Luce for the last four years, following a seven month stint at Bewdley Forest Pines and 12 years at Kidderminster Golf Club as head assistant.

He has seen the club's progress to date where its membership now stands at around 600 and has helped build up a thriving ladies, senior and junior sections.

"It has been a really good move for me," said Phil, who is captain of the Worcestershire PGA.

"The whole place is different now. When I first came here the pro shop was the club house bar and the changing rooms were in temporary buildings."

The club welcomes green fee payers - one of its innovative schemes allows fees paid as a visitor to count towards an entrance fee if a player eventually elects to join.

Either way as a member or a visitor Gaudet Luce has a lot to offer and if nothing else it will surely be the most quaintly named golf course that you play. For details call 01905 796375.