A FARMING family in Teesside is on course to open a golf driving range later this month.

For the Pickerings, of Holdenfields Farm, near Yarm, the opening of Yarm Driving Range is their first venture into diversification.

They launched the business with help from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) rural enterprise scheme.

Charlie Pickering has been involved in mixed arable and sheep farming since he was five years old.

He has been married to Liz for 33 years.

The couple started thinking about diversifying three years ago when it became apparent that traditional farming alone would not sustain them.

They carried out careful market research into the types of business they could branch out into, and felt a golf driving range would run well alongside the farm's daily activities.

Mrs Pickering said: "There is a full-size golf course two miles away, but we found many people do not have the time to play a full round of golf and just want a place to put in a bit of driving practise.

"Also in winter they can stay relatively warm and dry while they practise their swing, while the floodlighting means they will be able to come after work."

The driving range covers 12 acres of the 183-acre farm and has 15 bays, four open bays and two teaching bays.

There is also a bunker, practice green and a golf shop stocked with accessories.

Two professional golf coaches will be available to provide advice.

The range will be opened on Saturday, August 24.

For more information call (01642) 780662