THE area’s leading golfers are determined to ensure Russ Chilton’s legacy is honoured during 2016 following his sudden death following a suspected heart attack at the age of 51.

As York Union of Golf Club’s scratch team captain, Chilton has overseen a golfing golden age in the city.

He led the union – the smallest of eight in Yorkshire – to the county title in 2014 and last year’s runners-up spot.

As Pike Hills skipper, meanwhile, he also guided the Askham-Bryan based club to the Yorkshire first division title for the first-ever time in 2010.

Fellow Pike Hills member and York Union president Martin Greaves will now take charge of the scratch team and revealed that the players are determined to ensure their performances in 2016 will provide a fitting tribute to their sorely-missed leader.

Greaves said: “Russ was a larger-than-life character and a great guy. Everybody knew him – not just in York but wherever we went as a union in the county.

“He was somebody who shone out like a beacon in a room of people. There wasn’t a bad bone in his body and he was an inspiration for members at Pike Hill and golfers all across York.

“The lads in the York team saw him as a father figure and they all respected him so much, because of his leadership qualities and ability. He got the best out of people and was instrumental in the development of the scratch team at Pike Hills.

“What he achieved with the union was also unprecedented. He did a brilliant job gelling 12 lads together as a team and I will never forget the image of him sinking to his knees at Fulford’s 16th hole when we won the Yorkshire title.

“I’ve been asked to take over as captain/manager and there is a feeling among the team that everything they do this year will be a success for Russ. There will be a lot of tears and smiles at his funeral because he was so popular, but there is a determination to carry on what he achieved, so the spirit of Russ lives on.”

Chilton leaves behind wife Viv, 17-year-old son Tom and a sizeable trophy cabinet, including one piece of silverware won at the most famous golf course in the world.

In August 2010, he won the Eden Tournament at Scotland’s St Andrews having carded his best-ever round of 64 and, during the same month, he also lifted the Leeds Amateur Cup – one of the oldest competitions in Yorkshire.

Chilton won the York Union’s team championship, meanwhile, in 2002 and lifted the Issott Trophy with an afternoon round of 68, setting a new club record at Aldwark Manor in the process and dedicating the victory to his dad, who had died two months earlier.

Other triumphs came in the York Union’s Cross Trophy with partner Darren Meek, the Matchplay Championship and Pike Hills’ Club Championship.

He captained Pike Hills from 1994 and, before delivering county success, guided the team to the York Union’s division one and four-man championship titles.

A string of players have also progressed through the club’s junior ranks under his watchful eye.

Chilton’s funeral will take place at York Crematorium, Bishopthorpe Road on Wednesday (April 27), starting at 1pm.