BY his own admission, Bellshill man Thomas McAteer wouldn't let a game of golf get in the way of a good walk.
He confessed: "Golf brings out the worst in me. I find it very frustrating."
Now, however, Thomas is hoping to help others who do spend time on the fairways with their chipping and putting.
He has designed new clubs which he believes will ena
ble golfers to lower that all-important score at the end of their round.
He has created his own brand – Bumpjump® – and the clubs are now on the market after he launched them at the Scottish Golf Show earlier this year.
Thomas, of Sapphire Road, Bellshill, said: "Customers are telling me the putter is saving them three or four shots per round. It's the same with the chipper which makes the golfer's dreaded shank history."
Former construction worker Thomas (47) first came up with the idea of designing a new club five years ago while watching golf on television.
He explained: "I wondered to myself what firms hadn't come up with and thought of a chipper with a convex face.
"Every lofted club – one which lifts the ball – has a straight striking face, but the convex design means my club is shank-proof. It keeps the ball straight no matter where the point of contact is."
Thomas made a prototype of the club from wood then approached the now defunct Rosehall Engineering in Bellshill who produced a copy using scrap aluminium.
Next he contacted Hamilton engineering lecturer Kenny Cameron who made a plastic prototype and helped him refine the product.
Thomas then took the club to the R&A at St Andrews to ensure it met the golf body's standards and, with financial backing from Bellshill businessman Raymond Franchetti, was soon ready to go into production.
He had also been working on an idea for a putter which he was convinced would make a significant difference to golfers on the greens.
Thomas said: "My putter has a raised strike face which means you won't stub a putt through the club hitting the ground. It also promotes natural top spin, keeps the club face clear of debris and enables putts to be played on the slightly longer grass – known as the apron – which surrounds the green."
The clubs were launched at the Scottish Golf Show at Ingliston in April and are now available to buy online at www.bumpjump.com.
Thomas added: "I have also been promoting them at golf courses throughout Lanarkshire and the response from players has been great. The clubs are on sale at most pro shops in the county.
"The putter is saving players shots and, once they get used to the unique chipper, they are finding it to be deadly accurate."
Bellshill golfer Sam Cairns, the new professional at Colville Park in Motherwell, has been helping promote the new clubs and is full of enthusiasm.
He said: "Thomas has come up with exciting and unique designs. The chipper, in particular, will help people with problems playing this shot.
"The golf market's a difficult one to succeed in, but I hope it all works out for Thomas."
It's a challenge that Thomas is determined to meet and he has more ideas in the pipeline.
He said: "I must thank Kenny Cameron and Raymond Franchetti without whom I wouldn't have got this far. Now that the clubs hae been launched, I have other golfing ideas that I hope to develop in the months and years ahead."
Despite the interest in, and praise for, his products, Thomas has no intention of going on to the golf course and trying them out for himself.
He said: "I like to relax by walking and really do agree with the old saying that golf is a good walk ruined."
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