AS Europe's stunning Ryder Cup victory was celebrated long and hard in golf clubs across the continent, an extra big party was being held at Rossendale Golf Club.

That is because Bob Torrance, father and mentor of winning captain Sam, is still fondly remembered by the older members there as a popular professional and greenkeeper for around four years in the early 1960s.

President Gordon Robinson explained over the euphoric din: "A lot of the people here remember Bob very well and of course there used to be a young Sam knocking around the place. He must have been about seven or eight.

"We are all absolutely thrilled for them both, it was a great victory and it was lovely to see Bob on the telly.

"We have had a competition going on throughout the day but the club has been packed with people watching the Ryder Cup and the place has been buzzing."

Torrance senior is the coach of Irishman Paul McGinlay who sunk the Cup winning putt on the 18th green and Mr Robinson joked: "Bob gave me lessons 40 years ago when I was about 27 but I was never going to be one of his star pupils.

"But he is always remembered here as a good pro. He was a greenkeeper pro and you always knew that not matter what time you came to the club he would be busy working."

Before the Ryder Cup was postponed last year in the wake of the tragedy of September 11, Sam Torrance had provided Rossendale Club with a pair of tickets for all three days of the event and they were played for in a competition.

For the members who watched the event on telly at the clubhouse the excitement was great and a loud cheer greeted the sight of their former pro embracing his son.

The committee is meeting tonight and the President admitted: "We will be sending a message of congratulations to both Bob and Sam, they deserve it."