The 59-year old lost his leg from above the knee in August 2006, but the keen golfer was back playing competitions at Highlands Golf Club only five months later.

Since then he has bagged the Club’s medal of medals, picked up a first place at the Amputee Golf Association Australian Open and claimed top prize at the NSW Amputees’ Open.

He has come a long way in a short time.

Orford had to come to terms with the balance, or lack of balance, associated with hitting off his one good leg and his prosthesis.

While the right-hander used to move his weight forward with his swing, he said it’s now all about upper body movement.

“It’s not the prettiest swing to look at, I am sure of it, but it works,” he said.

Before Orford lost his leg due to a blockage in his groin, he played off 14 and his handicap has now drifted to 20.

He thinks adding six shots to his handicap for a lost leg was a pretty good result.

“The first 12 months after the operation was bloody hard work,” Orford said.

“I did it tough for a while, and still do at stages, but in the end they took my leg, not my life.”

Since losing his leg, Orford has found friends in places he would never have thought of. Like the Amputee Golf Association.

“We are all in the same boat and each of us can share a few laughs with each other,” he said.

“You walk into where we are sitting after a round of golf and there are pieces everywhere.

“Arms, legs, hands, you name it.”

His most recent win was the overall nett winner at the NSW Amputees’ Open played at the Twin Creeks course at Luddenham.

But one of the biggest wins is being able to keep playing the game he loves every Saturday.