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Darren Grey is a former one-armed golf champion who is hoping to bring more disabled people to the game.

The 27-year-old from Darlington was born with the lower part of his left arm missing, and started playing on the field behind his home with his golf-mad-dad, at just six-years-old.

He said: "My dad loves the game. He got me into it and actually cut down a golf club so it was the right size for me at that age.

"He started me off, and then from there I progressed to a driving range, got a few lessons, and just kept pushing until I got to where I am now."

Now Mr Grey plays for the Middleton St George Golf Club, and hopes to encourage others to take part.

He said: "I talk to disabled people on the club's behalf, and encourage them to give it a try, then professional coaches work with me and them to give the one-on-one help they sometimes need to get started."

Mr Grey said people do not know what to expect from disabled golf, but everyone who comes and plays is different.

"People ask 'What's disabled golf?' but it can mean anything from a physical disability to a mental disability" he said.

Mr Grey was the One-Armed World Champion, but lost out in 2011. It is a title he is working hard to reclaim in 2012.

He said: "It's a five day event in June that hopefully gives everyone a chance to see some good disabled golf."

Mr Grey, who was born with his disability, said several disabled golf societies exist and, in the past, have fought each other for funding.

"We've started to come together, breaking down the walls of different disabilities and seeing it all as one thing.

"It means we're able to grow as fewer, but larger groups, and also apply for more funding."

Golf can be an expensive pass time, costing around £6,000 a year to train, cover travel costs and tournament fees.

"So far my dad has paid for nearly everything, I owe him and the rest of my family a lot," he said. "I do work, but it costs a lot to play to the level I do. I will need backing to progress to the next level.

"It has to be a passion to play to this level. You put in time, effort, and then you take time off work to do it too.

"And then you add in the actual cost. You can just play golf for fun, and that's what I'm hoping to encourage, but to play to competition level like I do, you have to really be hooked on it."