LANCASHIRE has only ever boasted one Open golf champion.

But Dick Burton, a weaver, held the trophy for longer than any other player in history.

Just a couple of weeks after beating American Johnny Bulla, finishing with a birdie on the 18th at St Andrews, the Sale Golf Club professional was fighting for his country in the RAF.

Golf and all sport had to take a back seat during World War II.

Seven years later he wrote to the R&A to enter the 1946 Open and defend his title, saying: "I'll bring the trophy back when I come."

Burton had grown up on a farm next door to Darwen golf course and honed his skills by hitting bobbins with a walking stick along with his brothers Tom and John.

He had to work for a living operating a loom in the local mill but his golfing skills earned him his first job as a professional at Darwen, where he developed his god-given talent and played three times in the Ryder Cup before his Open success.

This is just one of the fascinating stories in David Birtill's new book `Lancashire Links' charting the history of the Lancashire Union of Golf Clubs which celebrates its centenary next year.

With meticulous attention to detail Birtill maps out each decade as the Union grew from its original 29 clubs to the current 142 - and every club gets a mention.

It's clearly a labour of love for the Manchester Evening News golf correspondent and Chorley Golf Club member and it comes across in his clear and fluid style. It's not just the characters of yesteryear who are celebrated in this exquisitely designed A4 hardback, which contains unique pictures and interesting statistics.

Today's heroes such as Nick Dougherty and the stars of the future such as Tommy Fleetwood, James Robinson and Matthew Nixon are also profiled. One story that made me chuckle was that of Gordon Whitehead, an unsung hero of Swinton Park, who won a Rolls Royce Corniche and retained his amateur status.

I've seen that classic car parked outside the club. Gordon, twice Lancashire seniors champion, still plays to a high standard at the grand old age of 85.

LANCASHIRE Links by David Birtill, £15, can be obtained from county headquarters at Lytham St Annes (email secretary@lancashire golf.org or phone 01253 733323) or from club secretaries.

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