IT'S about time Dougie Brimm enjoyed the rub of the green. Eighteen years ago the keen golfer was hitting the fairways on a regular basis and had managed to work his handicap down to eight.

But then events dictated that Dougie had to give up the game he had learned to love and turn his back on membership at Brancepeth Castle Golf Club.

In the space of 12 months his car had been stolen along with the clubs he was storing in the boot, he was struck down by ill-health and he had to deal with the deaths of both his father, Thomas, and best friend Alan McGuire.

But in March, last year, Dougie was back on the tee after recovering from a severe case of the skin disease psoriasis and he joined Woodham Golf Club.

The 61-year-old is now celebrating after marking his return by being handed the Marks & Spencer View From Golfer of the Month award.

And he will be one of 30 golfers to travel to the Vilamoura resort in Portugal in mid-November where he will battle it out for the right to become the Golfer of the Year at the grand final.

"It's fantastic and I can't believe it," said Dougie, a 15-handicapper. "I would never have thought this could have happened to me. I'm going to be on my way to Portugal to stay in a five-star hotel and I'm hoping my wife, Kay, can come with me.

"It really has taken me back. I just didn't expect it. I knew my friend Ken Marley had nominated me for it but I didn't think anything would have come from it."

The reason Ken had put Dougie's name forward was for a terrific stroke of luck, or pure genius, which came after those difficult years.

At Seaton Carew recently the Bishop Middleham pair, along with David Shaw, were representing the Fleece Inn pub in the RNLI golf charity day at the coastal course.

That three man team, with the best two scores to count, turned on the style to hit a 90 point winning total and Dougie registered more than 40 of those himself.

But, in a round littered with birdies, it was his incredible hole in one on the 187-yard 15th that persuaded the panel of judges - including European Tour Professional Stephen Gallacher and Olympic rower Matthew Pinsent - to crown Dougie with his moment of glory.

"It really was one of those things," said Dougie modestly, recalling his sweetly struck six iron. "Ken claims he actually heard the ball strike the pin, I don't know about that though.

"As we were walking up to the green the lads on the other fairway were shouting over to us that I had got a hole in one and it was great.

"When we got back to the clubhouse I had to line the bar with whisky in glasses, which was a little expensive! But it's a few years since I got my first and only other hole in one, at Tyneside Golf Club, so it was great to get another."

Dougie, 62 in October, won the men's 55 years and over category and received a polo shirt from the Marks and Spencer's sportswear brand.

Published: 16/07/2004