A star-studded weekend of golf at Staffordshire's JCB Golf and Country Club has been hailed a great success thanks to 150 volunteer games-makers, including some from Leek and Cheddleton

 As more than 7,000 spectators flocked to the fairways at the prestigious course next door to the JCB World Headquarters at Rocester, the volunteers were hailed as heroes of the day taking on a whole host of duties including course marshals, parking attendants, scoreboard attendants, TV assistants and chaperones.

 The inaugural JCB Championship, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, was part of the international Legends Tour and saw volunteers, staff and visitors welcoming stars of the game including Darren Clarke, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Colin Montgomerie, Alex Cejka and John Daly.

 It was a rare opportunity for local golfing enthusiasts to visit the spectacular 240-acre parkland course, as well as watch the 80 international golfers competing for the £600,000 prize fund. Meanwhile, all profits from the event are to be donated to the JCB NSPCC Platinum Jubilee Appeal.

 And for two Staffordshire Moorlands women it proved a real weekend to remember.

 Primary school teacher Hayley Thompson (28) from Cheddleton spent Friday and Sunday volunteering and supporting players including tournament winner Alex Cejka. 

Hayley, who teaches at Alexandra Junior School, in Normacot, said: "My dad, Rob, is a member of the JCB golf operations team, and even though I don't play golf I love watching it, so I really wanted to volunteer and be part of the day. 

"It was a brilliant experience - I was working on the driving range where the players warmed up and then I moved to the 17th hole updating the leader board, so I got to see the players in action as well.

 "I really enjoyed chatting to some of the players and working with the golf operations team, who were great. It's completely different to my day job and I would definitely do it again."

 JCB Golf and Country Club Golf Operations Assistant Leann Nixon (21) of Leekbrook also enjoyed her weekend's work in charge of the driving range.

Golfer Leann, who plays at Leek Golf Club, picked up some valuable tips too. She said: "It was a brilliant experience and I couldn't quite believe that I was looking after people I've admired and seen on the TV.

 "One stand-out player for me was Gary Evans who showed me some amazing trick shots on the driving range. Also I learned a lot from watching Colin Montgomerie - he hit the ball so gently, but was brilliant and it showed me it's not all about just hitting the ball as hard as you can.

 "It was a fantastic day and it made me really proud to showcase the course to local people who don't normally get to see it. Also the volunteers on the day were such an amazing help and we couldn't have done it without them."

 JCB Golf & Country Club General Manager Mark Addison said: "The JCB Championship has been a fantastic success. It was our first international three-day competition and it was great to be able to welcome golf enthusiasts and the local community to the course.

 "The 150 volunteers and our amazing staff were key to the whole event's success and we cannot thank them enough. This has really put the JCB Golf and Country Club on the international tournament map and the professional golfers all praised the course, the hospitality, staff and organisation of the whole weekend."

 Winner of the JCB Championship was German professional Alex Cejka who triumphed with an 11 under par over the three rounds. For the full list of final scores visit www.jcbchampionship.co.uk.