AN INFAMOUS Barrow golfing figure and prankster is about to get his own movie after his unusual career caught national attention.

The life of Maurice Flitcroft, a self-styled professional golfer, is to be made into a film called ‘The Fantastic Fintcrofts’, starring acclaimed actor Mark Rylance.

Born in Manchester in 1929, Flitcroft captured the public’s attention by becoming known as ‘the world’s worst golfer’ - achieving a score of 121 in a qualifier of the 1976 open championship.

He became known for entering competitions under various ridiculous names and came away with outlandishly high scores.

Flitcroft lived in Barrow with his wife Jean where he became a crane operator and died in 2007.

Directed by Craig Roberts, the film is set to come out next year with writers Simon Farnaby and Scott Murray behind the story.

In 2011, Murray and Farnaby wrote ‘The Phantom of the Open: Maurice Flitcroft, The World’s Worst Golfer' based on Flitcroft’s life and his subsequent notoriety.

Cumbria’s Silecroft Golf Club manager Diane Clark said: “I’m sure a film like that would be fantastic. You do not see a lot of films on golfing lines, it is not a topic that you see very often.

“I would definitely go and watch it myself.”

Zeffirellis cinema in Ambleside has expressed and interest in showing the film upon its release.

“We would be very interested in showing this film.

“A picture like that we would have no hesitation about that.

“It’s got such a good connection to the area which people will enjoy and of course it’s got Mark Rylance in it.”

The film was due to be released in 2020 but has been pushed back until 2021.