IMAGINE being a promising little golfer, capable of building on a couple of impressive early triumphs but you break out into a rash when exposed to sunlight.

That is the situation nine-year-old Ben Brown has to cope with as he looks to develop his talent around the greens because he suffers from a rare condition.

But Ben has not been put off. Despite suffering from solar urticaria – where a person breaks out in hives, weals and nettle rash if they are exposed to sunlight – he has surprised everyone by achieving great things in the sport.

The main symptoms are itching, stinging and burning and it was during one of his appearances at the Wee Wonders final at St Andrews in 2014, when he still managed to finish sixth, when his parents realised something had to be done.

His father, Craig Brown, said: “Ben has suffered from all of the symptoms. An example of when it affected him most was at St Andrews. Ben started the final round two shots behind third place and after three holes had closed this gap to one shot. It then became very sunny and hot. He developed a rash and became nauseous draining his energy levels. Unfortunately because of this he fell away a little but still finished a credible sixth place.

“It was after this we realised we needed to get his condition diagnosed. We have also had a couple of occasions when Ben has become ill travelling to the golf course on hot sunny days resulting in him vomiting in the clubhouse toilets. However on both occasions he has wanted to still go and play after doing so.”

To enable him to keep playing golf, Ben has antihistamines morning and night to control the rash and during hot and sunny days he applies prescription strength sun cream. He may also need to take abdominal migraine tablets to prevent or ease any nausea.

Craig said: “It’s not really known why people suffer from solar urticarial, however, Ben was born eight weeks premature leaving him with a weaker immune system. The doctors have said as he gets older and his immune system becomes stronger his body may cope with the allergy better but that this was no guarantee.”

Stockton-born Ben, a member at Wynyard Golf Club, has not allowed the condition to stop him from improving – even though he was frustratingly left disappointed when he got to play in the US Kids Golf World Championship two years ago.

Craig said: “Ben wanted to compete at Pinehurst North Carolina in 2015 as a result of his performance at the Wee Wonders final.

“Unfortunately due to temperatures of around 35 degrees and glaring sunny conditions he couldn’t perform anywhere near his best. He now wants to work hard and have the opportunity to play there again to make up for this.”

That outing at Pinehurst was good experience. Ben, who was given his first set of clubs for his third birthday after playing the Gator Golf putting game, has enjoyed plenty of success.

Last year he won the inaugural Graeme Storm Junior Open at Hartlepool Golf Club (7-10 age group) and got to play a round with the South Africa Open champion at Rockliffe Hall. In April he attempted to defend his trophy just narrowly lost out on countback. Ben also finished sixth at the US Kids Golf Venice Open at Galzignano Terme in Italy last year, sixth at the Wee Wonders final in 2014 and has delivered three straight second placings at the Tiger Club Grand Final at Gainsborough.

He is also “really proud” of his hole-in-one in the practice round for a Wee Wonders Regional final at Brucefields Golf Centre, Stirling.

Craig said: “There was a long period when Ben was younger that he would like to play ten pin bowling at home and at the bowling alley. This may have been more practical due to his allergy but he loves his golf too much and giving it up would never be an option for him. He has said his main aim would be to be a professional golfer, however, if he didn’t manage this he would like to teach juniors the game.”