Bill Duston, a well-known figure in York golf, has died at the age of 69.

Mr Duston was closely connected with Fulford Golf Club, being a past captain, former club champion and former chairman of the greens committee.

He was greens committee chairman during the years when the Benson and Hedges International Open tournament was played at Fulford in the late seventies and early eighties. Mr Duston, a self-taught expert on the subject, presided over Fulford's emergence as one of the finest championship courses in the country.

His supervision of the Fulford course drew praise from many well known international golfers and officials and the European Tournament Players' Division of the Professional Golfers' Association appointed Mr Duston as their assistant agronomist, which involved him giving advice to clubs where tournaments were scheduled.

Mr Duston, who was managing director of Sorrell building contractors in York when he retired from work, was Fulford club champion six times and for many years was one of the leading players in York golf.

In 1989 he was honoured by York Sports Council with their Services to Sport Award for his outstanding work as greens chairman at Fulford.

The flag at Fulford Gold Club has been flying at half mast as a mark of the club's respect for Mr Duston.

Mr Duston leaves a widow, a daughter and a son. Details of the funeral service have still to be announced.