Blind golfer Arthur enjoys hole-in-one success on Shropshire course

Arthur, guided by friend Roy Chapman, achieved the ultimate shot when he teed-off on the eighth at Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club.

His drive bounced on the green of the 125-yard, par three and then ran straight into the hole. "Roy turned to me and said 'I've never seen anything like this before in my life'," said Arthur.

"He said 'it's only gone in. It's a hole-in-one'."

The achievement was all the more remarkable because in the 11 years 67-year-old Arthur played golf before losing his sight he had never achieved a hole-in-one. It was also his first game on a full-size course since going blind.

Arthur, from Kinver, near Bridgnorth, lost his sight due to illness about two years ago and when he had readjusted he started inquiring into the possibility of taking up the game again.

He said: "I went through the England and Wales Blind Golf Association and was put onto a training course at the Gaudet Luce course in Droitwich.

"I got sponsorship from Sight Concern Worcestershire and I was trained on a three-hole course with my friend Alan Hart acting as my guide. After that, my long-time friend Roy Chapman, who also lives in Kinver, asked if I fancied a game at his course, Cleobury, and I thought why not?

"In 11 years playing golf before I never had a hole-in-one and then when I lost my sight I thought to myself 'well, you're never going to get one now'."

Holes-in-one were also achieved over the previous fortnight at the same course by Jack Severn, 12, from Stourbridge, Rick Clayton. 56, Mike Stevens, Sam Pain, 22, all from Cleobury and members of the club, and Bob Rudge, 69, from Cradley Heath in the West Midlands, who was playing in the Gaskells Cancer Research charity golf day.

Cleobury Mortimer Golf Club project manager Dave Pain said: "I can't really remember when we last had a hole-in-one on the course. It must be at least a year.