But it's a different story with the Halifax and Huddersfield Union where no less than three members of the side which travelled to the Fylde to play St Annes Old Links in the traditional season's curtain raiser having fathers who also represented the Union with distinction.

Clive Crawshaw of Halifax GC is the son of John, a well known figure in Calderdale golfing circles, while Fixby man Mark England is the son of Keith, who also represented the Union on many occasions.

Making up that trio is Matthew Colcombe of Longley Park, whose father Michael had a glittering career which included winning the Union Match Play Championship in 1989.

And each of the threesome performed with distinction on the Lancashire coast at the weekend, Crawshaw partnering England to victory in their afternoon fourball match and a couple of matches ahead Colcombe teaming up successfully with Frank Greaves to earn the visitors another foursomes triumph.

Their efforts helped the Halifax and Huddersfield Union to a comfortable win over the host club.

Organiser Roger Cliffe stressed that the result was not the foremost concern in what is essentially a social occasion, but it was still pleasing for a very experienced West Yorkshire side to defy inclement weather to chalk up a 15-9 victory.

They will take that into the return leg which as usual takes place at the end of the season and on this occasion will be staged at Halifax GC's Ogden venue on October 5.

Heavy rain greeted the players as they took to the seaside course for the morning foursomes, and the first two matches went the way of the home side until Colcombe and Greaves steadied the ship with a half.

Crosland Heath's Neil Wilson and Iain Powell of Hebden Bridge earned the visitors their first victory and Bradley Hall duo Paul Taylor and Andy Whitworth followed it up with another win, but with the final match going the way of the Old Links, the home side led 7-5 at lunch.

But as the elements relented, the Halifax/Huddersfield side moved up a gear in the afternoon fourballs.

Heavy, squally showers returned in the later stages, but they could not blow the visitors off course and they sealed wins in five out of the six matches to take a 15-9 lead into the return leg and complete a highly successful and enjoyable day.

Full results (St Annes Old Links names first)

Morning foursomes: P Greenall and P Beverley beat G McLean (Meltham) and J Fairhurst (Bradley Hall) by one hole, P Nelson and D Laver beat R Holt (Woodsome Hall) and C Ingham (West End) 2&1, C Brooke and M Walton v M Colcombe (Longley Park) and F Greaves (West End) match halved, P O'Connor and R Connelly lost to N Wilson (Crosland Heath) and I Powell (Hebden Bridge) 3&2, S Laver & D Byrnes lost to A Whitworth and Paul Taylor (both Bradley Hall) 3&2, T Parsons & F Garritty beat C Crawshaw (Halifax) and M England (Huddersfield) 2&1.