Marsden Golf Club is pulling out all the stops to get more people involved in the game – and playing at Marsden.

Richard McAspurn, a committee member at the Hemplow club, said: “The last few years have been financially tough and a lot of golf clubs have declining memberships.

“We are keen to get more people of all ages, men, ladies and juniors, playing golf – we are already taking part in the Let’s Try Golf initiative.

“We’d like to get our local folk out on the golf course and part of our friendly little golf club.

“Our fantastic offer is for people who have not been a club member before, and we would give them a golf buddy and try to get them a handicap.”

Earlier this year, Marsden was awarded Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) status for offering a number of low-price membership deals.

They are one of the few clubs to break the £400 barrier by offering annual membership for £399 next year, even cheaper for pensioners at £335.

Under 17s can play all year for free in 2015 and the newly-introduced £99 annual fee for lady members is already proving popular, with a dozen or more new ladies already looking to join next year.

A number of improvements are in the pipeline for next year, including new tees and a new professional.

There are also ambitious plans for an indoor tennis court and covered driving bays.

Under the Let’s Try Golf initiative, people new to the game can pay £100 for six months’ playing membership next year.

Built in 1920, Marsden Golf Club is a nine-hole course. It was designed by the world-famous Dr Alister MacKenzie, who also designed Augusta National in America and many other championship courses around the world.

Set in the Pennines above the Colne Valley and on the edge of the Peak District National Park, Marsden is one of the most picturesque courses in Yorkshire, with panoramic views over Butterley reservoir and the surrounding countryside.

This well-maintained course provides a good challenge with tight fairways, tricky approach shots and guarded greens. Natural hazards and an openness to the prevailing winds add to the challenge.

The Examiner is launching a golf competition run in conjunction with Marsden Golf Club.

Marsden have donated the fantastic prize of one full family playing membership valid for the whole of 2015, starting in January.

This generous offer is worth several hundred pounds.

The competition is open to all families not currently members of golf clubs, and the committee at Marsden is hoping to attract a new family and give them the opportunity to start playing and enjoying the game.

Many people are put off joining clubs not only by the cost, but also by the fact that they don’t know anybody.

To combat this, Marsden has arranged a buddy system to help the family settle in, learn about golf, find playing partners and get handicaps.

To enter the competition, entrants must be aged 18 years or over and have to answer just one simple question:

How old is Rory McIlroy?

The winner will be drawn from all the correct entries. For a full version of Examiner rules, see www.examiner.co.uk/rules .

Send your answer on a postcard or sealed envelope along with your name, address and daytime telephone number, to: Family Membership Golf Quiz, Sports Desk, Huddersfield Examiner, Pennine Business Park, Longbow Close, Bradley Road, Huddersfield, HD2 1GC.

Closing date for entries is January 7 and the winner will be notified the following week.