Leader: Winning's not everything

RULE 3-2b of the Rules of Amateur Status for golfers, as laid down by the sport's governing body, the Royal and Ancient Club at St Andrews, states: "A hole in one is not considered to be purely a 'lucky shot' and it is not similar to a lottery." As a result, amateur golfers cannot accept prizes of more than £500 for hitting a hole in one, or they risk losing such amateur status.

This may seem an arcane matter, but not for Mike Miller, a 55-year-old consultant engineer from Stonehaven, who was playing the Medal Course at Royal Montrose with friends when he hit a hole in one on the 16th. For this feat he was offered the prize of a Nissan car. Many folk would have jumped at the prize, but not Mr Miller. Realising that by accepting the gift he would not only forfeit his amateur status, but thereby cease to be able to play with his friends in amateur competitions, Mr Miller had a better idea. Instead, he persuaded the prize's donor, a local garage, to give money to a cancer charity in memory of his wife, a keen golfer herself.

Mr Miller's attachment to his friends and to golf as a recreation rather than a career are to be commended. But it could be said that the Royal and Ancient's rule in this matter is a tad too onerous.

Fortunately, Mr Miller's moral dilemma was limited by one extra factor –he already has two cars. As he said: "I've got no idea what I would do with another one."