A ONE-LEGGED golfer took on an astonishing winning shot by twisting his prosthetic limb at the knee joint so he could play a crucial ball out of a ditch.

 

Colin Poole beat more than 105 able-bodied players in an unprecedented one-stroke victory at an England Golf gold medal tournament at the South Moor Golf Club, near Stanley, County Durham.

 

The key moment in Mr Poole’s win arrived after his tee shot at the 18th hole was deflected off a tree into a ditch.

 

He said: “At first it looked as if I would have to concede a penalty stroke and take a drop shot.

 

“But then I had an idea. Twisting my prosthetic leg behind me at the knee joint made it possible for me to hit the ball sitting down with my legs in the ditch.

 

“I gripped down a little on the club and got the ball out of the ditch and onto the fairway.

 

“Not losing that shot at the last hole turned out to make all the difference, although I did not know who had scored what until we all got back into the clubhouse.”

 

He was also helped by a stroke of luck when on the eighth fairway his tee shot hit a horse’s head in the farmer’s field next door and bounced back into play.

 

Mr Poole nicknamed “Shep”, now plays off a handicap of 22. He won by one shot, finishing with a gross score of 89. Taking away the handicap, that gave him a 67.

 

The 65-year-old retired publican of Tantobie lost his right leg six years ago, when high cholesterol led to a blocked artery.

 

By then he had become one of the 17 per cent of amateur golfers in England who have a single-figure handicap, winning five club tournaments.

 

Since then, he has found it difficult to walk, because the extra effort of using the prosthetic limb gives him pain in his left knee and hip.

 

Although he can drive himself round the course in a buggy in between playing shots, he can’t practice his swing on the driving range.

 

Balancing is tricky and to avoid falling he can only play in dry weather for five months of the year.

 

Club director Guy Carr said: “Inevitably, there has been discussion within the club as to whether Colin contravened Rule of Golf 13-2 on the 18th. This governs fairly improving a stance.

 

“There is nothing in that rule which covers prosthetic legs and it is hard to see how playing a golf shot sitting down is easier than if he had been standing up.

 

“Colin is a role model and inspiration not only for fiercely determined people everywhere but also golf’s handicapping system.

 

“His victory is proof that the club adjusting Colin’s handicap has made it possible for him to be a competitive golfer despite his disability.”

 

Mr Poole said: “I have had to learn how to stand differently. It’s been a long process and I still tend to ‘lock in’ a bit when I am swinging.

 

“The only practice I can do is a bit of chipping, so it is down to improving when I play on the course.”

 

“I am still learning but I am making progress. My putting stance is the thing that I have had to change most but that is coming good.

 

“And as time goes by I am starting to follow through a bit better on my swing.”

 

He almost gave up after the first hole of the one-round tournament. He said: “Some rain had made it a bit slippery underfoot and I cannot play when it is too wet. I was on the brink of going in because I did not want to risk falling over and breaking my neck.”

 

The South Moor course was created by the same man who designed Masters venue Augusta National, Yorkshireman Alister MacKenzie. In early April millions of TV viewers watched Sergio Garcia pip Justin Rose in a play-off to win £1.6m at Augusta. The only people watching Mr Poole take the £50 first prize were his caddy, Toby Carr, 74, and two competing golfers.

 

Mr Poole has been a member for 35 years at South Moor and clearly welcomes the occasional wager.

 

He said: “Off the handicap I have now I fancy my chances going head to head against any golfer on a course I know so well.

 

“I reckon I would take fifty quid off Sergio Garcia if ever the Masters champion fancies a one-off matchplay challenge match at Augusta’s sister course.”

 

Colin was the landlord at the Townley Arms in Stanley for 15 years. He was also a scaffolder and ran a business laying patterned concrete.

 

During a spell as a sand blaster he worked on the Channel Tunnel and was one of a 15-strong team first through the exit at the French end when the tunnel opened in 1994.

 

 

 

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