TWO young stars of Welsh rugby have been finding out how tough the game of golf is recently at St Andrew's Major Golf Club.

Welsh international Aled Brew of the Newport Gwent Dragons and Wayne Evans formally of the same club but now playing for Coventry RFC have been taking a series of lessons from the club's PGA Professional, John Hastings.

They have quickly realised that the physical strength which is so important for top class rugby is not of great value for golf if they have not mastered the finer aspects of the game which places a premium on co-ordination, relaxation and timing.

“I started having lessons off John about two years ago and learnt from him that the effort I was putting into trying to smash the ball vast distances were counterproductive. Now both Aled and myself have seen a big improvement in our games due to John's coaching with the emphasis on learning to strike the ball better but not harder which I think all rugby players are guilty of and although we don't always put into practise what he is teaching us we are beginning to enjoy our golf a lot more.” said Wayne.

“We really enjoy the relaxed atmosphere at St Andrew's with the Driving Range and nine hole course which only takes a couple of hours to play suiting us perfectly. It's been said that rugby is physically probably the toughest of all games to play but golf has to be the toughest mentally.” said John who is used to teaching ex-rugby players with British Lions Tom Shanklin, Geoff Evans and former Wales coach Alan Davies amongst his pupils.

Contact details for St Andrews Golf Club are Lesley Thomas, secretary, 01446 722227.