An amputee golfer from Dumbarton revealed the debt he owes to the sport as he celebrated selection as Scotland’s vice-captain for the prestigious Phoenix Cup.
Jim Hamill will travel to the Forest of Arden Golf Resort near Birmingham with Team Scotland next month for the event, where they will take on teams from England, Wales and the USA.
It comes after an impressive year for Jim that also saw him win Scottish Disability Golf and Curling’s Order of Merit.
He told the Lennox: “It was a bit of surprise to get the Order of Merit. I hadn’t realised I was doing so well.
“We’re feeling confident. We started the qualifying process last year after the British Open at Strathmore.
“Because there were only eight rounds up to the selection date for this year we wanted to start well in advance, so selection got underway last year which gave us 13 rounds.
“I qualified second. As vice-captain I would be an automatic pick, but I would feel guilty going if I hadn’t qualified for it.
“I think we have a very good squad.
“We have four teams competing, so it will no longer be in the Ryder Cup format because of that.
“The United States have a bunch of very tasty players, England and Wales. All of whom have their own superstars – but we certainly have a few stars ourselves.”
Jim only took up golf later in his 50s having lost his left leg following a road traffic accident when visiting his wife’s homeland of Belize 20 years earlier.
And he credits the SDGC with changing his life and that of others involved.
He explained: “When I lost my leg I didn’t play golf. I wouldn’t have thought that I could’ve gone on to play golf for Scotland on one leg!
“As an amputee, you feel sorry for yourself. Right at the start, you feel as if your life is over.
“I’ve been an amputee since I was in my 30s. But it took me eight years to get a leg that fitted me without cutting me to bits. After that, it started enabling me to do more without cutting myself to ribbons. That changed things.
“The SDGC is an incredible organisation. They have totally changed my life and the things they do for people just to get you out and about are outstanding.
“They help anyone with a disability that prevents people from getting around a course – be that physical, mental or sensory.
“It’s been a life-saving thing for me if I’m totally honest.
“They have opened up so many opportunities for people, and that’s what I’m so grateful to the SDGC for.”
The International Phoenix Cup takes place between August 14 and 16.
