People are being urged to take up golf as more than 150 professional golfers wrap up four days of competition in Norfolk.

Wensum Valley Hotel Golf and Country Club in Taverham has played host this week to the PGA EuroPro Tour which provides a platform for emerging golfers to launch a tournament career.

The event, which ran from Monday to Thursday and was shown on Sky Sports, saw 156 players from across the world compete for a �40,000 prize fund.

And as young talent Jamie Abbott, 23, won his first PGA EuroPro Tour event, a rallying call was put out for more people – particularly youngsters and women – to take up the sport.

Brad Jordan, head club professional at Wensum Valley and who runs his own teaching academy, said: 'It's a very social sport, you're outside in the fresh air and it doesn't have to be time-consuming.

'Golf used to be seen as fuddy-duddy but it's not like that any more and it's not just for wealthy people – you can pick up a set of clubs for �99 and it can cost just two or three pounds to practise.'

It was the sixth year running that Wensum Valley hosted the first leg of the tour which ended in a 'thrilling final day' on Thursday. The tour will now move on to Surrey.

Meanwhile, initiatives have been set up to encourage more people to take up the sport. At Wensum Valley, for example, lessons start from �20 and to encourage people to play after work, there is a �10 green fee after 5pm where they can play as many holes as they like.

Elsewhere, there are courses at De Vere Dunston Hall Hotel on the A140 Ipswich Road, Barnham Broom and Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel on the Wroxham Road. Other include Costessey Park Golf Club, Bawburgh Golf Club and Eaton Park Golf Club.

According to research, enjoying a regular game of golf has numerous health benefits as playing and carrying the clubs can simultaneously lower cholesterol and speed up metabolism, burning 300 calories in one hour.

Are you setting up an initiative to encourage youngsters to take up more sport? Call reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk