FORMER dairy farmer Graham Chapman has teed off on a whole new career.

Where cows used to graze, stands an 18-bay fully automatic, floodlit, under-cover golf driving range, described as the only one of its kind in the North of England.

Mr Chapman, whose parents live in Great Ayton, has 104 acres at Towthorpe, just one mile off the A64 near Strensall, York.

The 300-yard range is the largest in the area and includes a further six outdoor bays and one large bunker.

The range only opened on Saturday, but already a nine hole putting course is being developed.

Mr Chapman and his wife, Mary, became disillusioned with dairying about five years ago. Long hours and falling prices had made them consider their future.

Foot-and-mouth was the final straw for, although the disease did not affect their herd, they were hard hit financially by movement restrictions.

"It made us look more seriously in a different direction," said Mr Chapman.

They had thought about a driving range some ten years earlier when their sons Adam and Mark were aged about 12. "We used to take them to Center Parcs and they would go on the golf range and ask if we could have one on the farm," said Mr Chapman.

They decided to explore the possibility seriously and travelled the country looking at different ranges.

Mark was already working on the farm and Adam, who was working in marketing in Manchester, returned to join the business.

They talked to York City Council planning department at the very early stages to get planners' advice and comments, then successfully applied for grant aid under the Rural Enterprise Scheme run by Defra.

The range includes golf pro Andrew Smith, who is available to give lessons to both adults and children, starters and the experienced. There is also a golf shop and caf.

The grant also allowed the Chapmans to create an adjoining touring caravan site complete with shower and toilet facilities. It can cater for 20 caravans and includes eight "supersites" with electricity, water and sewerage connections. It will open in May.

The family operate a livery business, too, which is capable of taking 18 horses whose owners can ride on tracks around the farm and use an outdoor arena.

The Chapmans have carried out a huge marketing exercise for the range and hope to attract golfers, starters, corporate events and tourists.

"We are also highlighting the fact that people can come in their caravans and enjoy some golf as well as visiting the area," said Mr Chapman.

York is on the doorstep and Strensall Common - a 1,300 acre site of special scientific interest - is literally just across the road.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Chapmans have been able to call their new enterprises York Golf Driving Range and York Caravan Site as no-one else has used the names.

Each enterprise has its own web site, on www.yorkgolfrange.co.uk and www.yorkcaravansite.co.uk

The golf range has automatic golf ball feeders and a tee which can be raised or lowered to the desired height. It was designed by the people who made the robots which write on the cars in the Renault advert.

Although the family received some grant aid, they have put a substantial amount of their own money into the new ventures.

The Rural Enterprise Scheme was established to help farmers diversify and develop alternative sources of income. "The grant scheme is competitive so it is important that applications are well researched and supported by a sound business plan," said Sarah Broadwith, project officer with Defra's Rural Development Service.

"The Chapmans submitted a good application, containing some detailed market research, which proved a public demand for the facilities.

"We wish the family every success with their new venture."

The driving range is open seven days a week from 8am until 9pm.