Golfer's lucky escape after being hit by car (From Wiltshire Times)

Golfer's lucky escape after being hit by car

5:00pm Saturday 23rd June 2012 in Corsham By Craig Jones

Golfers are to step up calls for speed restrictions near their Box club after a player was left in agony when he was hit by a car.

Rupert Pridham, 49, who has played at Kingsdown Golf Club for 22 years, broke his ankle in two places in the accident at Henley Lane, at 4.50pm on Friday.

At the time he was trying to find a golf ball belonging to one of his opponents on a grass verge by the road.

Mr Pridham, of Warbler Close, Trowbridge, said: “From the side, I saw a motorbike going really fast down the road, from Bath towards Melksham. The next thing I knew there was a car coming at me, in the other direction, on the verge.”

Mr Pridham tried to jump out of the way, but wasn’t quick enough, suffering a double fracture to his ankle.

He was taken to Royal United Hospital, Bath, had surgery on Saturday and returned home on Sunday to spend Father’s Day with his 15-year-old son James.

The vehicle involved was a silver Toyota Verso. The woman driver did not suffer any injuries.

Mr Pridham said: “It all happened rather quickly. The driver of the car could have been distracted by the motorcyclist. It could have been a lot worse if I was a little slower getting out of the way.”

Mr Pridham, who works in IT, and lives with wife Fiona, 47, and their son, has a metal plate with four screws in his leg. But he said having his treasured golf shoe cut open hurt more than his injuries.

He said: “The medical staff had to cut down the shoe to get to my foot, so I only have one shoe now. So the boys at the club have started a collection to get ‘Ru a shoe’.

“They’ve been great, as has my golf partner, Ray Drury.”

Golf club manager Neil Newman said:“I’ve been here seven years and on a couple of occasions I’ve written to the Highways Agency to ask them to consider some speed reduction measures.

“Their response has always been that there is a roads review in three years and no funds are available, although last year they did put some signs up to let people know about the junction by the club.”

Mr Pridham has also called for improved road safety around the club to warn motorists that pedestrians are nearby.

He said: “This is something I’d like to see, as signage isn’t brilliant, so I think something needs to be done.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “Following on from the review of the speed limits on A and B class roads, we are now reviewing speed restrictions on C and unclassified roads.

“Each area board has nominated two priority routes for this financial year, and we would encourage people to contact their local area board with any suggestions for the next round of reviews in 2013/14.”