An award-winning weekly newspaper journalist has moved to a new role covering Britain’s golfing scene.

Karl Hansell of the Whitby Gazette was awarded the Feature Writer of the Year prize at this summer’s O2 Media Awards for Yorkshire and the Humber.

It led to a series of job offers but Karl has now opted for a new position with National Club Golfer magazine.

He said he hoped the move would help him expand his writing ability – as well as lowering his handicap.

Karl, right, holds aloft his Feature Writer of the Year prize

National Club Golfer is owned by Sports Publications, a magazine publisher based in Leeds.

Its editorial director Dan Murphy said: “Karl is a talented mutimedia journalist and we are looking forward to him using the skills he has learned as a news reporter to magazine writing and golf.

Added Karl: “After I won the O2 Media Feature Writer of the Year award I had a couple of exciting offers, but I decided to go for the role at Sports Publications simply because it was so different to what I am used to.

“I had spent a couple of years on a local newspaper and I wanted a completely new challenge, something that would take me out of my comfort zone and, if I’m lucky, maybe even out of the country on stories.

“When Dan contacted me about joining the team I didn’t hesitate to say yes and although the guys here in the office mock my limited golf knowledge, I’m really enjoying learning how a successful commercial magazine is operated.

“The team here is expanding and thriving and it’s really given me hope for the future of the written press – proof that things aren’t all doom and gloom.

“My hope is that through my experiences here, I’ll be able to expand my writing ability and learn some new skills – and hopefully reduce my handicap in the process.”