Tiffany Hewetson, just nine years old, is starting to make her mark at East Brighton.

She won the ladies' competition at the club president's day with 37 points and only three men scored better from a field of over 100.

Winning is no new experience for Tiffany. In a mixed party of club members on a trip to Ireland, she walked away with the money.

In the 18 months she has been at East Brighton, members have taken her to their hearts. Golfing prodigies are nothing new but shrewd judges predict a bright future for Tiffany if she maintains her present progress.

She was introduced to the club by her father, Adrian, who plays off 14. He cheerfully admits he can't beat his daughter and in that respect he is not alone.

Richard Roelich, who has been an East Brighton member for over 30 years, was one of the group who each put a fiver in the pot when they all played at Druids Glen. He said: "Without a doubt Tiffany is the best player I've ever seen for her age.

"We were happy for her to play but agreed that she put her money in. Her winnings came to about 30 punts."

Tiffany, who attends St Margarets School, Rottingdean, plays golf at least three times a week. The golfing bug bit when she accompanied dad to Burgess Hill driving range.

Last winter Tiffany had lessons from Marcus Groombridge at the range and has also received coaching from Mark Stuart-William at East Brighton. Both say she has exceptional talent.

Tiffany, East Brighton's youngest member, said: "I love it to bits. But I couldn't do it but for dad."

Adrian said: "I am very proud. I can't beat her. She is breaking 100 up here regularly and birdied the long par five 15th the other day. Her game has come on a lot since the summer when she won the high handicap prize at the Sussex Juniors meeting at West Chiltington. Then she was cut by five shots to 40 and now her handicap is 38."

The game holds no fears. Her favourite club is the driver, one of a set bought for her by dad when they played in Palm Springs. They've also played in Spain as a furtherance to her golfing education. The only department that Tiffany admits needs improving is putting. "I tend to bash them a bit and a seagull flew away with my tee shot on the third the other day."

That might be a rare birdie that got away from this remarkable girl who knows where she is going and that is straight down the fairway.