Rasen man’s recovery is above par

In 2018, Phil Clifford (69) was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, after he was hospitalised having lost the use of his arms and legs.

He spent more than four months in hospital, followed by rehabilitation, and during that time his focus was getting back on the fairway.

Phil said: “My partner brought me a club in when I was on the rehabilitation ward.

“To start with I couldn’t hold it at all, but slowly I got ‘into the swing’. Then I started practising on a Wii.

“My goal was always to get back to playing a decent game.”

While Phil is still on the road to recovery, his golf game is certainly going from strength to strength.

In a practice round last month at Market Rasen Golf Club he hit a hole-in-one and then just 11 days later, he did it again, this time in a competition, which earns him a certificate and a Boss watch.

Phil said: “I was very chuffed.

“It has taken me more than 40 years to get a hole-in-one and then I get two in 11 days.

“The first one wasn’t a good shot; it hit the back of the bunker. I didn’t see it, but the young lad I was playing with shouted it had gone in the hole.

“The second time was a much better shot - pretty decent, going straight into the hole.

“I didn’t see it that time either!”

What is even more remarkable, is the successes were both on the same hole - the 5th, which is a par 3.

Phil is now back to playing four times a week at Market Rasen’s Legsby Road course.

However, despite Phil’s achievements, he is still battling to get back to full health.

While the use of his limbs has returned, he is unable to walk for any distance, so uses a buggy to get round the course.

Phil said: “I can’t walk more than 100 yards at the moment, but I am working to build that up.

“I have been told by the doctors it could take up to three years to get back to the same fitness as before.

“I just need to get stronger and then things will come back in time.

“You just have to persevere, that is what I am always telling people.”

However, Phil hasn’t walked the road to recovery alone, by his side has been his partner Rachel Heath.

Phil said: “When I was first in hospital, Rachel would come along to feed me, as I couldn’t do it myself and has gone on to help me along the way.

“She has put up with a lot and has proved her worth a hundred times over.”