SIV set for golf boom after Open Championships.

Leading leisure operator Sheffield International Venues (SIV) is set for a golf boom, following the 2009 Open Championships which swung into action recently.

The event, which took place at Turnberry for the fourth time, is in its 138th year and sees the world's best golfers gather on the Ailsa Golf Course to battle in out over 72 holes of golf.

SIV's courses currently see over 200,000 rounds of golf played per year and this number is set to rise in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire as amateur players are inspired by the likes of Tom Watson and Lee Westwood.

Andy Carnall, SIV's golf manager, said: "The Golf Open Championships is the biggest event in the golfing calendar and competitions of this scale are a great way of reigniting the passion of many amateur golfers.

"The performances of American Tom Watson who, at 59 years old, was the oldest player in the field, and the youngest competitor in the field, 16 year old Matteo Manessero of Italy, show that golf truly is a game for all ages.

"There are very few sports in which a child could enjoy the same game as his or her grand parents, or indeed where three generations of the same family could compete together!

"We hope to see an increase in the number of golfers across our courses in the coming weeks, as well as more youngsters and novices taking up the sport."

SIV operates four golf courses in Sheffield and Chesterfield: Tapton Park, Beauchief, Birley Wood and TinsleyPark.

They offer four 18 hole golf courses, a nine hole course, a pitch and putt course, and have professionals based at each course on hand to provide coaching for all ages and abilities, from adults and juniors players to beginners.

For more information about how to become a member of SIV's Golfit scheme, visit www.sheffieldgolf.co.uk or call 0114 244 8974.