Last updated 11:40, Monday, 21 April 2008

HERE’S a poser for golf fans. A Cumbrian golfer teed off at the third hole on Keswick’s Hope Park pitch and putt course, and his ball landed in Taiwan.

How did he do it?

The answer is more prosaic than the story because there just happened to be a house with the name “Taiwan” immediately adjacent to the course.

Our friend has a problem with shanking and on this occasion his shot flew over the fence, took a giant bounce on the road and landed in the garden of Taiwan where, red faced, he had to creep along and collect it later.

This excellent little course with its fabulous scenery does tend to attract novice golfers and no-hopers like Reiver’s friend.

But the problem of stray shots has been drawn to the attention of the trustees who manage the park. One concern is the number of insurance claims for damage caused by balls with a mind of their own.

Action is now being taken. A trustee has been working with park staff to re-align a green and a tee to try to avoid the results of mis-hitting.

The trust’s annual report was given by town councillor Elizabeth Barraclough, who sounded cautiously optimistic that the days of damage were drawing to a close.

If she had watched Britain’s elite golfers fall apart in last week’s US Masters tournament at Augusta, her confidence in the casual swinger may not have been quite so strong.