BUSINESS is booming at Forest of Galtres Golf Club - so much so that head professional James Wake is planning to branch out into big tournaments.

The 25-year-old, who has been in place at the Wigginton course for just over a year, has signalled an intention to compete in top level events in the PGA North region and Yorkshire PGA.

Wake, who has worked his way through as an assistant at Fulford and as the professional at Heworth before taking the reins at Galtres, and put his playing career on the back burner as he looked to get settled at Galtres.

"Now I have got myself established - I have been here just over a year - I am looking to play tournaments again and get back into the field in North Region PGA and Yorkshire PGA," he said.

"I want to give it a good go. It's what I want to do - it's why I became a professional golfer and I think I can play. When you get announced, a lot of people will remember the name of the club I am representing and we've had a lot of good feedback so far."

Wake, who said he was indebted to sponsors SG Petch, said he has enjoyed his first 12 months at the helm of the Skelton Lane course and believes it has a positive future.

"It was the attractions of the golf club, the facilities and the driving range that brought me here," he added. "It has been working well over the past year. When I started it was good, the winter was kind and everything has come on from there so it has been a good year.

"I saw the direction they wanted to take the golf club. It has developed a lot just in the time I have been here. I think it can develop a lot more.

"Every time you go out and play the golf club you can see it is improving. The greens look the best I have seen them and people are noticing when they come. There are a lot of positive vibes and Forest of Galtres is going to continue to go in the right direction.

"It's so competitive at the moment, and there are so many golf courses, that people pick and choose. People look at this golf course now and it is up there with the rest.

"It is maturing and that is the vital thing. Everything is on the up. It's an interesting course and every hole is a bit different."