THE longest serving member of Yelverton Golf Club has been honoured with a trophy presented by a gathering of past captains.

Colonel John Emerson, 89, has been a member of the club since joining up as a junior in 1924. To mark this he was presented with the John Emerson Scratch Open Trophy for the South West Region by club captain John Davey.

The competition, which will take place on August Bank Holiday weekend, will be open to clubs in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset and will have a handicap restriction of 7.4.

In presenting the cup Mr Davey said it was something the past captains wanted to do to mark Col Emerson's 77 years as a member.

'He has been a great ambassador for the club over a very long period and we are delighted to present him with this trophy,' he said.

Col Emerson, who has always lived in the Yelverton area, said his mother was a member of the club. 'She made me a junior member. I took to it and enjoyed it and progressed through the ranks. I got down to a handicap of nine — and that's as far as I got.'

He said he does not play anymore but still enjoys coming to the club for the social side.

'I'm very honoured, I don't deserve it. It is a superb cup. I'm privileged indeed,' he said.

'I'm going to create a past captains' trophy trophy for our competition — and I do wish it tremendous success.'

The competition will take place on August 27.

* Pictured is John Emerson with trophy and Club Captain John Davey.