Golf courses across England are set to reopen on March 29 – and one company is offering someone £500 to test a few of them out as part of a ‘dream job’.
As restrictions on outdoor sports facilities are lifted at the end of the month, The Golf Travel Centre has invited golfers to apply for a rare role in which they’ll be paid a handsome sum to tee off.
The tour operator has pledged £500 in exchange for an honest verdict on four golf courses.
Golf passes, club rentals, and food will be provided at each course – and the lucky winner will be even be allowed to bring along a friend or family member for the day.
Not a bad way to earn a few quid, eh?
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The exact golfing locations aren’t quite clear, but according to the terms and conditions these could be ‘adjusted accordingly.’
Entries are only open to UK residents aged 18 or over.
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More information – as well as the full list of Ts & Cs – has been posted online.
Ian Evatt sacked by Bolton Wanderers after emergency board meeting
Danny Jones
Bolton Wanderers have reportedly sacked manager Ian Evatt following yet another defeat in League One on Tuesday night, losing 2-1 to Charlton Athletic.
Marking their 10th defeat of the campaign so far, having only won just more than that tally and drawn five with a negative goal difference, it’s said an emergency board meeting was called after the result, with Evatt being ultimately let go.
The 43-year-old has been with the Greater Manchester side since 2020 after being snapped up following his impressive performance at Barrow AFC, where he got the non-league outfit promoted into the EFL after nearly half a century.
An official announcement by the club explains the decision was come to by “mutual consent” but regardless, the result is still the same and Evatt’s four-and-a-half-year tenure at Bolton has now come to an end.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club today announces that First Team Manager Ian Evatt has left the Club by mutual consent.
We would like to express our gratitude to Ian for his professionalism, commitment and creating a legacy during his time at the Club.#bwfc
Thanking for his “professionalism, commitment and creating a legacy during his time at the Club”, Bolton Wanderers Chairman, Sharon Brittan, goes on to add in the full statement: “Ian arrived at a challenging time for Bolton Wanderers Football Club and his dedication to rebuilding both on and off the pitch has been commendable.
“He instilled a renewed sense of professionalism and purpose, and we are grateful for his significant contributions during his four and a half years at the helm.
“He has been a pleasure to work with and I personally thank him for his hard work and passion for this Club. He has created a tremendous legacy and will always be remembered for the successes he has brought. We wish him nothing but success in the future.”
The decision for him to be sacked doesn’t exactly come as a surprise as the downturn in results over the last couple of seasons has been notable, and although Evatt made a bright start at Bolton, it’s been rather topsy-turvy for a while.
The former defender famously won them promotion to the third division when they were at risk of dropping into the National League amid their financial struggles and went on to win the EFL Trophy in 2023 – their first piece of silverware for more than 30 years.
It’s achievements like this that have given him a lot of goodwill around the Toughsheet Stadium but, in the end, the results just haven’t quite been enough. Despite many supporters having called for a change in leadership for some time, there was still plenty of gratitude for his efforts overall.
Thank you for everything, Ian Evatt.
Before this season, you built something special. The connection to the club had been the strongest it's been for a long, long time, so a big thank you.
No doubting, he tried. He did everything possible –but it just wasn't enough to take… pic.twitter.com/pb5dc5je9d
Evatt has also had more than his share of controversial moments in the dugout, as well as on the pitch.
It was only back in October 2024 that he was officially charged by the FA for misconduct after he squared up to a Shrewsbury player, leaning his forehead against captain Morgan Feeney in an aggressive manner, receiving a £3,400 fine and a three-game touchline ban.
As for the man himself, Evatt signed off by saying: “I’ve absolutely loved my time here at Bolton Wanderers Football Club. Working with Sharon and Nick [Luckock] has been a pleasure, and I’ve been superbly backed along the way by my team of staff and the players.
“There comes a point in football when a change needs to happen and the last thing I want is to damage what we have all built together. I believe the Club is still well-placed to achieve its goals this season, and I want to give the Board and players the best chance of doing that.
“I’m very grateful for everybody’s support and to be the manager of this wonderful football club has been the greatest honour of my career. To our fans, thank you for the support you have shown me and my staff. Together we have created some very special memories and I will always be a fan of this amazing football club.”
Bolton will be announcing an interim replacement in due course.
Joined us at one of our lowest moments.
A huge part of the journey in making us dream again.
Freight Island is hosting the UK’s biggest Six Nations fan zone
Danny Jones
Freight Island’s Six Nations fan zone returns for 2025 at the end of this month and we’re so ready for seven weeks of rugby action and a river of Guinness.
The iconic international tournament gets underway on 31 January and so too does Freight Island’s fantastic fan experience, providing an unparalleled level of excitement beyond being inside the stadium.
Set to be even bigger and better than last year, it’s the largest of its kind anywhere in the country because, well, as well as know, Manchester sports fans do it better than anyone.
Promising everything from free pints and prosecco for ticket holders, live music, top-notch scran from Freight’s in-house vendors and more, it’s going to be another year to remember.
The Freight Island Six Nations fan zone is back for 2025. (Credit: Supplied)
Fuel for the sporting action
Launching in time for the first game between France and Wales on the final Friday of the month, the Freight Island Six Nations fan zone will be open for the full duration of the competition, showing all 15 fixtures across a seven-week period.
With the final not until Saturday, 15 March, you’ve got plenty of time to sample all the massive Manchester venue has to offer this year. Speaking of..
As well as a steady supply of drinks including a self-service Guinness machine, punters will be eligible for a free pint of Freight Island pilsner or a glass of Prosecco with their ticket.
To make things even sweeter, as well as the usual foodie favourites such as Fuku, Mia’s Arepas, Burgerism, Voodoo Ray’s; Mega Gyros, Oh! My Cheesecake and Soft Boi, Scouse chicken connoisseurs Pattersons are launching their brand new ‘American Buffet’. We’re talking proper game-day food.
Every Sunday, they’ll be serving up half-chickens brined and deep fried in their special spice mix, or a vegetarian nut roast, plus an all-you-can-eat sides including sweet potato, corn salsa, tater tots, cheesy grits, home-made corn bread and their famous gravy, all for £18 per tray
You can ever pre-order a full bird ahead of time if you like – consider this the Six Nations answer to Super Bowl-level feasting.
But isn’t all food and drink, of course: Freight Island will also be making sure to keep the energy high no matter what’s going on in the matches with DJs, music from live bands, as well pre and post-match content for you to enjoy. Let us explain.
In addition to sets by the likes of singer-songwriter Neeva Zahra, Paul Eden and other special guests, but they’re also be performances by the Pent Up Pipes band and Dizzy Brasscals to really get the atmosphere going.
Crowd interaction is essential to making these fan zones work, so if bagpipes and a brass band doesn’t get you hyped as the six sporting-mad continental countries go head-to-head for European glory, we don’t what will.
Freight Island have also partnered with The EggChasers rugby union podcast, who will be delivering podcasts live from the building, as well as fan content before and after the whistle, meaning you can also get involved if you fancy yourself an armchair expert.
Dizzy Brasscals is the best band name we’ve heard in ages. (Credit: Supplied)
Once again, the tournament last for a good month and a half, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to enjoy all of the above, as well as all the live rugby on the multiple screens dotted around the venue – including one very big one.
Freight Island opening hours during the Six Nations and throughout February and March are Friday (4pm-12am), Saturday (12pm-12am), and Sunday (12-8pm).
You can book your free tickets HERE and we’ll no doubt see plenty of you there.
Meanwhile over in rugby league, local side Salford Red Devils have found themself in a less than ideal position ahead of the new season after being hit with a new sustainability cap.
The Manc -
24th March 2021 
