Leo's a natural golfer from his very first swing

But consider the fact the 10-year-old Poole lad was born with only one hand, and his achievements seem even more startling.

Leo, a pupil at Baden Powell and St Peter’s Middle School, Parkstone, quickly got the attention of club pro David Miles and his team at Bournemouth’s Knighton Heath Golf Club days after taking his first golf swings in the garden of his family home.

Dad Ian, a keen golfer, immediately recognised his son’s near perfect swing and took him to the club, where he’s now joining the junior section.

Ian said: “At this point he was swinging away left handed with his stumpy bit – we call it his special – resting on the top of the club. But he was hitting the ball really well.

“They couldn’t believe it at the club when I said he’d only been playing two days – they immediately said they’d offer him free lessons.”

Then the family got in touch with Dorset Orthopaedics, a medical company specialising in world leading prosthetics, who agreed to fund a special golf prosthetic for Leo free of charge.

Now the sports mad youngster, who is two belts away from gaining his black belt in karate, can drive the ball more than 180 yards, a distance many adults would be more than happy with.

Leo said: “Hopefully my new hand will change my life, so I will be able to get money by playing golf.”

Dorset Orthopaedics founder Bob Watts, whose organisation also fitted Leo with his martial arts prosthetic, said: “Leo is an amazing little lad and I believe whatever he does in life he’ll be successful because he has this amazing attitude to life.”

Dad Ian, who praised everyone at Knighton Golf Club and Dorset Orthopaedics, added: “There is always a catalyst for something like this, and in Leo’s case it was his karate.

“Sama Karate sponsored his karate hand and without them we would never have met Bob Watts. Leo is a tough cookie and karate instructor Dave Higson said of him, ‘Leo always finds a way’.”