ENGLAND’S promising young golfers refused to let the winter freeze dampen their ambitions to improve their game ahead of the new season.

Twelve players from England Golf’s Elite A squad joined six of their coaches to put their short game skills to the test with a three-day training camp at Formby Hall.

They began with 18 holes at last year’s Open Championship venue Royal Lytham & St. Annes before moving to train and stay at Formby Hall.

The camp included a mixture of short game and putting training followed up with 3D motion analysis and fitness work.

The backroom team included England Golf Performance Director Nigel Edwards, squad manager Kevin Tucker, coaches Paul Ashwell and Alan Thompson, 3D Instructor Mark Bull and physiotherapist Lynn Booth.

Former Walker Cup Captain Edwards commented: “Everyone involved in the England A squad thoroughly enjoyed the Formby Hall experience.

“The par 3 course was a real hit with everyone as it lends itself extremely well to the areas of the game we have been focusing on with our players over the winter coaching period and really highlights the skills required to become a top class golfer.”

Former world No. 1 ranked amateur, Walker Cup player and Formby Hall member Tommy Fleetwood – who is now on the European Tour – was also a product of the Elite A squad.

He finished in a share of 49th at last week’s Africa Open with Formby Hall clubmate Lee Slattery in 27th. Southport’s Matthew Baldwin was 67th, but there was further despair for Liverpool’s Nick Dougherty, who missed the cut in last place at East London GC in South Africa.