TWO officers based at Knutsford police station have refurbished the grave of a former Ryder Cup winning captain in Rostherne in their spare time after noticing it was overgrown while out on a police job.

PC Mike Dawber and PC Roger Holt had been responding to reports of youths hanging around in the graveyard at St Mary’s Church, Rostherne, when by chance they came across the untended grave of George Duncan.

Duncan was the first post First World War winner of The Open Championship in 1920 at Royal Cinque Ports, Kent and played for Great Britain in the Ryder Cup in 1927, 1929 and 1931, where he was playing captain in 1929 when GB won at Moortown Golf Club in Leeds.

PC Mike Dawber told the Guardian: "The youths had not been causing crime or anti-social behaviour but their presence in the area was understandably causing upset for families and friends visiting the graveyard.

"Whilst leaving the graveyard, we noticed the untended grave of George Duncan former British Open Golf Champion. I’ve seen pretty much everything in my Policing career but seeing George Duncan’s untended overgrown grave did give me cause for thought.

"I thought it was quite sad to see the untended grave.

"It did stay with me for a few days afterwards and I was quite taken a back when I researched George Duncan’s life on the internet.

"George Duncan was not only the 1920 Open Champion but also three time Ryder Cup player and Ryder Cup captain. He was also the son of a village Policeman so I thought I have to do something especially as it is a Ryder Cup year."

PC Dawber and PC Holt returned to St Mary’s Church and asked Rev Philip Robinson if Duncan had any family and if there would be any objection to tidying up his grave.

Rev Robinson said he did not believe George had any surviving family and would welcome any efforts tend to his grave.

The two officers attended on rest days and outside of duty time on weekends, on several occasions equipped with gardening tools, cleaning items and decorative gravel to tend to George Duncan’s final resting place.

Rev Philip Robinson added: "When PC Dawber and PC Holt asked permission to tidy the grave of the notable golfer George Duncan, I was delighted, and they have done a magnificent job."

The 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley said: "It′s lovely to hear this heart-warming story in my year as Ryder Cup Captain and think these two officers should be commended for their actions in tending to George′s grave. "Let′s hope I can emulate his Ryder Cup victory at Moortown and be victorious at Gleneagles in September".

George Duncan was well known for his fast pace of play, he would simply walk to his ball, immediately drop his limbs into his stance, and hit the ball.

He was the golf professional at Mere Golf and Country Club between 1934 and 1962 and the wedding suite is still named after him at the resort.

Joe Gates, director of golf at The Mere Golf Resort and Spa, said "George Duncan forms an integral part of the history of The Mere Golf Resort & Spa, and we were delighted to hear of the work that Mike and Roger have been putting in to restore his final resting place, to befit such a true legend of the game of golf. Nobody should forget how much George achieved in his lifetime, and the work that has been done, will enable his legend to continue."