ENGLAND golfing legend Gary Wolstenholme assisted several members of the Gloucestershire county team at a special coaching and playing day at The Players' Club at Codrington.

Wolstenholme, formerly of Gloucestershire, won the British Amateur championship and played in The Masters at Augusta while a member at Bristol and Clifton.

The Walker Cup star is probably Britain's best amateur golfer who has consistently performed at the very highest level for more than a decade.

But he moved back to Leicester-shire to promote a golf club, as employment opportunities were limited in the West.

New county captain David Hares (Bristol and Clifton) invited him to play with and speak to the county's development squad. They were players whom the county feel have the ability to represent Gloucestershire at the very highest level and potentially play international golf.

The group was Mike Unwin (Brickhampton Court), Ed Butler (Lansdown), Andy Rudge (Bristol and Clifton) Nick Scholey (Henbury) and Shane Winstone (Knowle).

Said Hares: "Obviously Gary has an awful lot to offer them in terms of knowing what it takes to elevate their game to the next level.

"It was a real eye opener for some of them. They saw how meticulous you need to be with preparation, practice everything about your golf and lifestyle really."

They played a strokeplay competition which Scholey won with a one-under-par 71.

Gloucestershire have returned to Berkshire-based Gary Smith, who is one of the England team's short-game coaches, as part of their winter training schedule and are also working with sports psychologist Brian Hemmings.

"As with most sports these days, golf is about much more than just playing the game," said Hares.