Golfer sues for £750,000 after losing eye

44 year old Anthony Phee, from Manchester, is seeking £750,000 in damages, against Niddry Castle golf club and golfer James Gordon who took a tee shot that caused Mr Phee to lose his eye. The level of damages in the case has been agreed but liability still remains an issue.

Mr Gordon, who has a handicap of 18, told the court that he hit his shot from the eighteenth tee but it swerved towards a group of four people on the path which included Mr Phee.

Mr Gordon said after hitting the shot he immediately shouted the traditional golfers warning "fore" as the ball headed towards the group. He said: 'I shouted fore at the top of my voice.' His playing partner also called out. He added 'On the shout of fore three people went down.' But the fourth member of the group did not shield himself and instead was 'looking towards the sky.'

Mr Phee, said that he had only played a few games of golf in the past but he knew that hearing the shout of "fore" there was a stray ball and that he should take evasive action. He added that he ducked and put  his hand up to protect his face, after hearing the warning but was still struck by the offending ball and felt his eye explode.

Both Mr Gordon and the golf club, claim that is Mr Phee had ducked as he stated then its highly unlikely that he would have been hit.

Mr Phee states: "It is common knowledge among golfers that it is the responsibility of the striker of the ball to satisfy himself that his shot cannot harm anyone.'

The court case continues.

Golfplan Insurance Goes Wild

Golfplan took part in the charity auction of Bristol Zoo's Wow! Gorillas sculptures and has successfully acquired 'Noah'.

Noah was one of 61 life-sized gorillas statues auctioned at the Victoria Rooms in Clifton after being part of a public art trail in Bristol throughout the summer.

Each Wow! Gorilla sculpture was painted by a local artist as part of Bristol Zoo's 175th birthday celebrations.

The sculptures were auctioned off to help raise funds for two charities - Bristol Zoo's conservation projects for critically endangered gorillas, as well as Wallace and Gromit's Grand Appeal for the cardiology unit at Bristol Children's Hospital.

More than 500 people attended the charity auction to place their bids and altogether helped raise over £427,000.

The 101 small gorillas which have also appeared  around Bristol this summer will be returned to the schools and nurseries which sponsored and decorated them.