A four-year-old is being labelled a "special talent" after becoming a golf club’s youngest-ever member.

Sheppey lad Shane Cooper has been signed up after dazzling coaches at Sheerness Golf Club - which first opened back in May 1909.

Members of the team have acted quickly in getting the youngster on their books after first spotting his potential last year.

The Island-based schoolboy, who also lives in Sittingbourne, has been training there ever since and, just three months shy of this fifth birthday, the team at Power Station Road just couldn't turn down the chance to make him part of the club.

As well as smashing Sheerness’s previous record of an eight-year-old being its youngest recruit, Shane has also become a member of a golf outfit three years earlier than British icon Rory McIlroy.

The Northern Ireland superstar joined Holywood Golf Club on the outskirts of Belfast aged seven back in 1996.

One of those coaching Shane is Andy Thorburn – a professional golfer who has spent nine of his 22 years at Sheerness.

The 41-year-old Rainham resident admits Shane could turn out to be a hidden gem.

He explained: "I was asked to give him a golf lesson by his family and when I first saw him I knew he was fantastic.

"In the months I've been with him, I have seen him grow as a golfer and as a character because he's a very funny lad.

"I have also never seen anyone as talented or dedicated at four-years-old as Shane.

"I was a member of Gillingham Golf Club when I was about nine and even that was considered quite young back then.

"So Shane's response to coaching where he experiments and changes his technique is really impressive as he adapts brilliantly to advice, but he's got such a confident swagger as well.

"There are two parts of his game which I believe stand out and that's his driving, which he rips with so much confidence, and his chipping which is really great to watch.

"He once said to his dad that if he can chip one of his shots in the hole can they go to the driving range, and he did exactly that.

"So I had a chat with the secretary of the club, Alex Tindall, and said we need to try and get Shane as a member because he's a special talent."

Born in October 2018, one of those who has been guiding Shane throughout his life is his father, Steve Cooper.

The 36-year-old, who has no previous golf experience, first introduced his son to the sport when he was just 18-months-old.

He insists he has never looked back and now spends his mornings practising his putting at home while watching videos of legends such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Mr Cooper added: "As soon as he opens his eyes in the morning, it’s the first thing he does.

“Shane’s mum always says he is in the garden practising and there’s always training balls flying around the house.

"I first realised there was talent there when he was about 18-months-old and we used to play crazy golf.

"It wasn't until Shane was two-and-a-half though where I thought he was really good technically, as he could hit the ball so straight.

"We would go to a different course every weekend because he found it so fun.

"When he turned three I then took him to play pitch and putt and he absolutely loved that even more.

"His swinging was obviously a bit all over the place, but the foundations were easily there.

"This is when I asked him if he wanted to play on a proper course and have his own clubs made - which he needed because of his age.

"Now he is four and has been coached by Andy since last October - he even had his first lesson on his fourth birthday.

"We started playing nine-hole courses about six months ago at Leeds Castle and he can now hit well over 100 yards, and averages between 60 and 85 yards with his iron, too.

"Of course when he starts playing competitions during this summer he's going to be playing against people between eight and 12-years-old, but he has been training six days a week to practice.”

As for the future? Steve said: “He could go on to be one of the best players in the world,”