Steve Prior lost his arm in a water skiing accident at the age of 17.

Although he is loathe to dwell on his horrific injury and the affect it had on his studies, Steve’s world changed forever as he prepared for his HSC year at high school.

 “I lost my right hand [coincidentally his writing hand] in a water skiing accident at Forster on the mid NSW coast … somehow it got caught in the rope,” he recalled. “I was knocked out during the surgery but woke up a couple of days later not knowing what had really happened.

“From the first moment I looked at my injury, I remember thinking ‘oh well, that’s gone, let’s get on with things’.

Two days later I was allowed out of the hospital on a day pass and went to the local golf course and had a hit one-handed … I knew right then that was the sport I wanted to continue to play.”

Remarkably, aside from the fact that he did not perform as well as hoped in the HSC due to the injury, Prior has no ill-feeling, no misgivings and certainly no regrets.

In fact, he deems himself as being “pretty lucky”. “I just have the attitude to get on with things no matter what is thrown in my way.”

The determination which has characterised his existence since this accident has resulted in some remarkable achievements.

Along with Steve Smith and Geoff Nicholas, Prior was a founding member of Amputee Golf Australia (NSW) in 2002.

“One of my fondest memories was staging the first Australian Amputee Open at Graham Kenyon’s home course, Coolongatta Tweed, in 2004 … we knew we had started something big and that everyone would enjoy,” Prior recalled.

“From there we have seen Queensland, Victoria,  Western Australia, South Australia and New Zealand start their own associations.
“This makes me think that the state of Amputee golf in Australia will get stronger and stronger as long as we have people willing to put their hand up and help”

Prior is also passionate about the socialising aspect amputee golf. “This provides amputees great ideas about how they can make their lives just a little bit easier.”

Having completed school at Cromer High and obtaining an advertising degree at Macleay College, Prior started up a courier business which he ran for 11 years before going into sales.

In 2003 Prior married his school sweetheart, Leslee. The couple have two beautiful children, Isabella and Benji.

In the first year of his amputation Prior does admit to being a little self conscious, retaliating with sly remarks when people made derogatory comments about his arm.

“I really get annoyed when parents, especially, try to pull their children back if they come up and ask me what happened. This shows that they have no tolerance for someone with differences.
“I like it when children come up to me and ask what happened, this helps the younger generation become more tolerable with disabilities, whatever they may be.”

From a very young age Steve Prior has always loved his sport, having played representative Aussie Rules and Tennis. He had played a little golf as a schoolboy but when the time came after his amputation to find a sport in which he could remain competitive, golf was the perfect option.

“I could not only compete with non amputees but myself as well.”

He conquered his next quest by having a TRS Prosthetic Golf Grip fitted, providing him with a lot more control [“although it still has it flaws”] than playing one handed. “I have issues with the hydraulic hose breaking or moving during a swing which can cause some wild results … and it can slip when I sweat.

“I am excited to add, however that I have just ordered a new golf attachment from TRS called the Eagle Grip - a one piece polyurethane construction that hopefully will halt slipping issue.”

About a year after losing his hand Prior joined Long Reef Golf Club and started off on a 27-handicap. Within two competitions he was down to 19 and the next year to 12. Over the next three years he worked his way down to 4, and early this year Prior hit his lowest handicap of 1.

He has made Long Reef Golf Club’s pennant team as well as winning the A Grade foursomes and three monthly medals.

As an amputee, Prior competed in his first tournament at the 2002 world series at The Lakes in Sydney where he was place a credible third behind Shane Luke and Geoff Nicholas.

“This was a spot that I had become accustomed to until I finally got up for victory at the 2009 Open.”
He is also currently NSW and Queensland Champion and as well as the New Zealand Open Champion.

His sense of humour shines through in his favourite saying "Armless by day, Legless by night"