Former Hazel Grove professional dies

PGA North has just been informed of the death of another of its members - the fifth this summer.

 Malcolm Hill, who lost a battle against a long term illness in July, was 76 and had retired after 30 years at Hazel Grove.

He was assistant pro at Rochdale before moving to Wolverhampton, Burnley then Hazel Grove.

Hill won a string of titles and competed at the Open Championship in the 1960s.

His sister Joyce Cooper paid tribute to "a very friendly, very likeable chap who had a great sense of humour and was a great family man."

Daughter Julia Gaunt, 47, and son, Andrew Hill, 52, both took up golf as children, and went on to represent England, while grandson Jack, 20, won the Staffordshire county championship last year.

Julia said: "He was the best dad we could have asked for and it's a big loss to mum, too."

Hill lived in a house on the Hazel Grove course during his term as pro and was held in such a high esteem he served as captain then president of the club.