He may not be the original one-arm bandit but there's an argument to make that he's the best in Ireland. This weekend Paddy Perry won Ronnie Conway's captain's prize at Lucan Golf Club and in doing so eclipsed a male membership of 600 golfers.

That's not quite the whole story though. Paddy Perry has played golf one-armed since losing his left arm following a motorcycle crash in 1972. He fractured his spine in the accident and ended up completely paralysed for a time.

Eventually his mobility returned to all save his left arm. The surgeon who performed the amputation recommended that Perry take up golf, a game he felt would benefit his recovery.

Having never played before he accepted the advice and his golfing career began in earnest about 1990 and really took off when he joined Lucan in 1994.

Last Sunday week the 19-handicapper shot a nett 70 in the opening round of the captain's prize and on Saturday followed that up with a 67 for a total of 137, and a one-shot victory over Liam Hannigan.

He admitted: "I think I was about five shots behind after the first day and had no real idea that I was going well in the second round until my playing partners Seán Quigley and Dave Murray tried to mentally coax me down the 18 th.

"I ran into a bit of trouble and I suppose if I was to recall one shot over the two rounds it was probably my third over the bridge. I ended up with a bogey six and then found out that I had won. I'm thrilled."

Just to give people an idea, Paddy reckons he hits his drives about 220 or 230 yards and if faced with a shot of about 140 yards would normally hit a seven-wood. His was a remarkable achievement, but there's a bit of sporting pedigree in the background.

His father Paddy Snr, a garda who hailed from Roscommon, was in the Guinness Book of Records after winning nine All-Ireland handball titles, eight in succession, while his son demonstrated considerable prowess in another sport.

"I used to be quite a good snooker player. My highest break is 98, achieved against a professional, Gay Byrne, in Tallaght.

"I played in club leagues out of the snooker club in the Spa Hotel and also in Raphael's where Fergal O'Brien is the head professional.

"In golf, I've played in the Straffan Cup and you'd hear guys saying things like, 'I hope you get your man', although that attitude seems to change after you hit the ball," he laughs.

"I am a member of the one-armed bandits worldwide golf society but haven't played in many events in recent years.

"Winning this has been amazing and if it inspires anyone then all the better."

In fairness, it couldn't but serve as a monument to courage, character and no little ability.