THREE local golfers have ensured one of Bolton's oldest golf trophies can be played for long into the future.

The Buff Cup, which was donated by the Bolton Evening News in 1933 and played for annually ever since, was in danger of going out of circulation.

It was in a poor condition and the plate recording the winners' names was full.

The trophy is named after the newspaper's former Saturday sports edition and goes to the winners of the Second Division Golf Cot which is played for by Bolton Golf Association clubs and organised by the Bolton District Charity Golf Cot committee.

John McKenna, who was secretary of the Bolton District Charity Golf Cot committee in its centenary year in 2016 – set about getting it refurbished.

He found people to do the necessary work, and two members of Regent Park Golf Club – its president, Cliff Nelson, and Graham Frees – volunteered to pay to pay for it.

The Golf Cot is a charitable organisation which was set up in 1916 to raise money to provide cots for babies during the First World War by playing golf matches locally.

When the trophy was presented to the winners – Regent Park – last year it was noticed the trophy was in poor condition and the plate on which the winners' names are written was full.

Mr McKenna said: "The base became distorted and horrible and the silver band recording the names of the winners became full so it needed refurbishing.

"The base was so distorted that the cup itself started to look a little bit shabby.

"The danger was it would become unusable and it’s a nice trophy, so we’re pleased its back in circulation.

"It's very nice and there's room now for enough names to carry on for another 80 years.

"The charity didn't have any money to do the renovations because it gives all the money it makes to local charities and never has any reserves.

"I spoke to people at Regent Park, my own club, who had just won it and said we might need some sponsorship to do this, and two of them immediately said they'd do it.

"They said just get it done and they'll pay for it, which was kind of them.

"It didn’t take much persuading them.

"I got the base made purpose-built by Red Rose woodworking club who made it out of hardwood.

"It took me probably about a month to contact the right person there. I went to a sort of agricultural fair where they were and they said there was a guy who’d probably do it for me.

"Then I had to go to Garstang about a month later to speak to him, and then it took a further month to do.

"It is held by Regent Park and they were happy to wait to get it back.

"It’s very nice. It's not just another plastic replacement that you can buy because they had to fit the existing silver band on it as well, and they made it to fit.

"It cost about £80, which was considerably less than commercial prices. Again, they appreciated it was for a charity."