TWO crooks who pose as golfers are being hunted after raiding more than SIXTY clubs and stealing gear worth £750,000.

The brazen pair have struck repeatedly at courses more than 400 miles apart, swiping clothes, sets of clubs and members' belongings.

They have hit five clubs in one day and targeted some more than once in what police say is theft "almost on an industrial scale".

The thieves - who wear caps and carry golf shoes to look like genuine players - even struck at the club where the cop leading the hunt for them is a member.

It is suspected the equipment they have stolen, such as complete sets of clubs and bags worth up to £1,000 a time, has been flogged on at car boot sales.

They have struck at courses from Ormskirk, Lancs to Cornwall, Nottingham, Somerset and the North-East.

In one raid they ransacked all 200 lockers in a changing room.

They were caught on CCTV cameras boldly emptying the locker room at Dainton Park golf club near Newton Abbot, Devon, and strolling off with gear.

Detective Sergeant Dave Atherton, of Lancashire Police, who is leading the inquiry, said: "These two have had an absolute field day.

"They look the part as real golfers and we estimate they have robbed more than 60 clubs."

Keen golfer Det Sgt Atherton admitted: "My own club was one that was targeted."

Target ... Ormskirk Golf Club

Two similar vehicles - a silver Chrysler Grand Voyager people carrier and a metallic grey Volkswagen Touran - have been linked to the villains, but checks showed the number plates were fakes.

Det Sgt Atherton continued: "On one day alone the haul was worth £32,000.

"They moved around 20 sets of clubs, which would have filled one of these people carriers."

One suspect is 5ft 11in to 6ft, well built and about 15st. He is 40-ish with a shaved head or cropped light brown or sandy hair.

He has a round, reddish face and distinctive "cauliflower" ears.

The second man is the same height but slimmer, aged about 35 and with longer, darker hair.

More than four million Brits play golf and spend £400million a year on clubs and clothing