‘GOLF SAVED MY LIFE’ Mike has set his sights on playing in Paralympics
AGOLFER who thought his days on the green were over when he lost his leg now has his sights set on the Paralympics. Mike Jones, 51, was on his way to work on his motorbike on Halloween 2015 when he was involved in a collision.
He was rushed to hospital at the Royal Gwent but was transferred to Morriston Hospital the day after and had to have his left leg amputated.
“I cannot remember the accident,” he said. “When my memory started to work again I wasn’t shocked that my leg had gone. The bit that hit me was the things you couldn’t do.
“Golf was a major one. I loved playing it and I wanted to play it again.”
Mike had a prosthetic leg fitted in March 2016 – and now says golf saved his life, giving him something to aim for.
Before the crash Mike had played in the Welsh Team Championships and Gwent League.
When he could stand he arranged to meet Mike Overton, from the Welsh Disabled Golf Association.
The meeting gave Mike the confidence he needed, but, he said: “It was so much more difficult than I thought.
“I have a robot leg but transferring weight is so difficult, it is like playing one-legged.
“Golf is my therapy and I am slowly building a reputation.”
Nearly 18 months on from the life- changing collision Mike, from Cwmbran, has this month won the Spanish Open for Disabled Players.
The success comes after Mike won the Welsh Disabled Open last summer and the Scottish Disabled Open’s Stableford category last year. And he had a hip replacement just three months ago.
His wife Beth has also become a fan and is even Mike’s caddy.
Married for 27 years, Mike said she had been a fantastic support.
“She hated golf before I lost my leg. We have met some amazing people and that’s what she’s enjoying.
“Getting to the Paralympics is my long-term goal but at the moment golf is not part of the Games because there is not a recognised international body, though they are working on that.
“Golf saved my life. It was something for me to aspire to.”
Mike’s next event on home soil is the Welsh Disabled Open at the Vale Resort in July.