Lancashire's golfing history

David Marsh represented England on 75 occasions

David Marsh would probably be a little embarrassed if he heard anyone describing him as "the doyen of Lancashire golf". But it's an accolade befitting no other player in the county's colourful history.

In a remarkable career, this retired family doctor who lives at Birkdale starred in a Walker Cup match and represented England on 75 occasions, later serving as captain of both teams. He twice won the English Amateur Championship; was captain of the Royal & Ancient, president of the English and Lancashire golf unions and was an England selector at all levels.

He has had such an impact on the game regionally and nationally for more than half a century. But his modesty is such that he would rather talk about mere mortals who have made their mark.

And that's what he does in an entertaining foreword to a new book on the centenary of the Lancashire Union of Golf Clubs written by journalist David Birtill who lives at Withnell Fold near Chorley.

World-famous clubs

Lancastrians are fortunate to live in a county "richer in championship and major tournament venues than any other in Britain" as Donald Steel, golf course architect and writer memorably put it. Dr Marsh certainly agrees. "We are indeed lucky to live and play golf in a county with such a rich history. And we thank those whose vision and enthusiasm has left us such a great legacy," he writes.

The story begins in the early 19th century with what is today known as Old Manchester Golf Club, instituted in 1818 but now sadly a club without a course. The tale then moves to the coast at Blundellsands when members of the Royal Liverpool Club and "others anxious to take up the Scottish national game" on the northern side of the Mersey founded the West Lancashire Golf Club in 1873 on a wonderful stretch of dunes north of Liverpool.

The book has been a three year labour of love for David Birtill

This extended stretch of the Lancashire coast is now the home of some world-famous clubs who have been so conspicuous in their contribution to the sport's development. West Lancs and Formby were two of the 24 clubs who were instrumental in setting up what is now recognised as the first British Amateur Championship - held at Royal Liverpool in 1885.

By the spring of 1910 there was a healthy enough quorum of clubs to establish the Lancashire Union. The county quickly launched a championship event which produced both a champion and a champion club. Now there are some 11 top competitions.

The English Golf Union was founded in the mid 1920s and an early president of Lancashire, J. Rayner Batty, became its first president. Two world wars inevitably meant setbacks to progress. However, from 1946 golf moved forward and the following years brought expansion, changes, improvements and an increasing popularity. Only Yorkshire has more courses than Lancashire, although the sport generally, like so much else in the current economic gloom, isn't finding progress easy.

'Stout heart'

Top amateur golfers were well known in the early days. Players like Sam Robinson of Southport & Ainsdale who was five times Lancashire champion; the wealthy and much-travelled Bentley brothers from Hesketh and Ivor Thomas of Formby. They were all internationals who performed with distinction in the years before World War II.

Nick Dougherty was spotted at an early age by Nick Faldo

The names of the leading players who followed on are perhaps more familiar. Ronnie White of Royal Birkdale, certainly the best British amateur of his time; Jackie Jones of Grange Park; Dixie Rawlinson and Geoff Roberts of S&A; Geoff Birtwell of Fairhaven and Denton's Bob Bardsley, another five times Lancashire champion, who all played for England.

Irish International Michael Edwards followed John Glover in playing for Lancashire, the latter playing in over 100 games before becoming a distinguished rules secretary at the R&A while Alan Squires of Oldham is looking forward to his next senior championship after nearly 200 county games. And of course there are the new stars of the sport such as Nick Dougherty, now a leading professional, Tommy Fleetwood, Matthew Nixon and James Robinson.

Lancashire golf today runs smoothly in no small part due to the guidance and hard work of the county secretary, Tony Moss, himself a former Welsh champion, international and Lancashire player.

After Dr Marsh's second English title the correspondent from Golf Illustrated wrote: "There can hardly have been a more popular success. His delightful personality, linked with his considerable ability and his stout heart, have made him one of the best-liked and respected amateur players of the game."

For David Birtill the book, Lancashire Links, has been a three year labour of love. "It's been hard work but I've had a lot of help along the way," he says, before admitting: "I wouldn't like to start all over again, though!"