She may have had her feet up of late but according to a new survey by the British Heart Foundation (BHF)1 almost a quarter (22%) of golf-mad teenagers think it’s time for Britney Spears to get back to work as their dream golf caddy.

The US singer proved to be well above par by beating a range of top celebrities including Will Smith (21%), Beyonce Knowles (19%) and Ant and Dec (8%). The BHF carried out the research amongst young players to launch the BHF Junior Golf Championship 2006. It hopes more under 18’s will take part in the only team contest played nationally that is open to both boys and girls of all levels of play.

The nation’s heart Charity also asked a number of celebrity golf fans from the worlds of sport and showbiz to name their No1 companion on the golf course with choices ranging from the sensible to the sensational:

•TV Presenter Kirsty Gallacher chose Jonathan Ross, she said: “He is so funny and would really look the part in his plus fours- I’m sure there is a secret golfer in him that’s just dying to get out!”

•Cricket hero and dance sensation Darren Gough had more romantic intentions, “I’d choose Tara Reid. I think she’d inspire me and then I could take her out for dinner to say thanks!”

•Football pundit Gary Lineker decided to make his colleague Alan Hansen sweat “…because I know how much he would hate doing it and would want to play a round himself”.

The BHF Junior Golf Championship gives young golfers the opportunity to compete at a national level, whilst raising essential funds for the BHF- in fact the survey also revealed that 47% of players think the best thing about the Championship is raising money for Charity. In 2005, the competition broke all previous fundraising records raising almost £280,000 nationwide.

Over 4,800 young golfers from golf clubs and schools across the UK took part in the Championship last year. In 2006, over 90 preliminary rounds will be held in the spring, followed by 11 regional finals in the summer, with the top 21 teams going through to the national final held at world-class golf course The Belfry.

The competition is open to players under 18 years old from golf clubs and schools. Each team of three players competes in a Stableford Point competition. Teams interested in entering in the 2006 event should call the British Heart Foundation on 020 7487 7149, visit bhf.org.uk/juniorgolf or email bertogaln@bhf.org.uk

For more information, please contact Karen Gray at the BHF press office on 020 7487 9482 or email grayk@bhf.org.uk. Or, contact the press office on 020 7487 7172 or 07764 290 381 (out of hours).

Notes to editors
-( 1) All statistics taken from a survey of BHF Junior Golf Championship Players, using a sample of 139 young people (July 2005).
-The R&A and the professional golfer Colin Montgomerie support the Championship.
-Since 1994, over 35,000 players have competed in the Championship raising over £1.5m for the BHF’s pioneering work.
-The British Heart Foundation is leading the battle against heart and circulatory disease - the UK's biggest killer. The nation’s heart charity is a major funder and authority in cardiovascular research. It plays an important role in funding education, both of the public and of health professionals, and in providing life-saving cardiac equipment and support for rehabilitation and patient care.
-For more information on the BHF, visit bhf.org.uk

Additional Celebrity Quotes

•TV presenter Gabby Logan went for the Hollywood treatment, “I’d love to have Samuel L Jackson as my dream caddy. He would look cool on the course, isn’t a bad golfer and he’d make me laugh”.

•Football legend Sir Bobby Charlton would choose “any Scottish caddy for their humour and knowledge”.

William Roache, actor from Coronation Street, chose the Dalia Lama. He said: “He would be a meditative and calming influence as well as giving some understanding of the lighter aspects of life”.

•Teddy Sheringham, West Ham footballer, chose Catherine Zeta Jones to keep him company. He said, “She knows her golf and just looking at her would help if I’m having a bad round”.

•Actor Derek Martin would bring Nick Faldo along, “Because I wouldn’t let him be so serious all the way round. We would be playing for laughs”.

•Charlton Athletic player Danny Murphy would like a few laughs to lift his game, “Ricky Gervais would be great because nobody could possibly help my golf game, but with him you would be sure to be laughing the whole way round”.

•Sports presenter Mark Nicholas decided to poach his caddy from a professional, “I’d choose Steve Williams (Tiger Woods’ caddy) since he could spend a few hours hypnotised by reality!”

•Former Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal goalkeeper Pat Jennings would like a comic moment or two as he tees off, “Frank Carson is my choice. It wouldn’t matter how well I played, the craic would be brilliant. A laugh a minute”.

•Broadcaster and ex-jockey John Francombe, said: “Any politician as they are all capable of putting a three on your scorecard when it’s really a four!”

•Alec Chamberlain, Watford FC’s goalkeeper looked a sporting hero for inspiration, “Lance Armstrong is my ideal caddy. Having read his books and admired his achievements on the Tour de France, I’m sure he would be great company and hopefully would inspire me to play some good golf!”