Mark Marshall: One-arm golfer on what it took to be world champion

Golf, for Marshall, has been a constant in his life.

He grew up in Retford, in the north east of the county, and first took up the game there.

When he still had both hands, he was on the club’s ‘scratch’ team – representing the best who played at course.

But with one hand, he is now going to play for Europe in the Fightmaster Cup, the one-armed equivalent of the Ryder Cup, later this year.

Getting his game to such a level, and being able to smash tee shots 270 yards with his weaker, but fully functional, left arm has taken years of work and even pain.

“It’s lots of practice, dedication and frustration,” he said.

“I had a few years building my strength up. I was hurting my shoulder quite a bit trying to hit the ball harder. But I’d say after about three years I’ve had no injuries because I just got really strong from all the practice.

“And it has been worth it in the end, because it’s just nice to hit a good ball.”

On his local fairways, Marshall is very much the golfer to watch – and not just because he is playing with a disability.

Even when he is a focus of attention among his fellow golfers for being a one-armed player, he relishes it because he knows he can change perceptions.

“If I play elsewhere people are all gobsmacked,” he said.

“They all watch me and that makes me strive more to hit a good shot off the first tee because they are all crowded around.

“I just smash the ball and everyone is just like ‘what?’. It’s good fun, to be fair.”