THREE golfers had a lucky escape when lightning struck on the 13th hole at a North Yorkshire course.

The trio all felt the bolt as it flashed past them, blasting into a tree and cracking it straight up the middle.

Unfazed by their brush with death, the golfers then continued their round at Fulford Golf Club.

Mike Onyett, John Taylor and former club captain Gordon Topping were well into their round when sudden storm-clouds gathered and the course was plunged into darkness.

John, 60, of Swarthdale, Haxby, said: "Gordon had just put his club down after taking his second shot and I couldn't see where the ball had gone because it was so dark up front.

"The rain got heavier and heavier and the sky got blacker and blacker and we thought something was going to happen.

"There was a clap of thunder which was extremely loud and instantaneously lightning as well.

"Each of us was struck by the lightning in some way.

"I got a flash in my ear and felt burning and felt like something had hit me.

"Gordon got it in the foot and Mike felt it also on his body.

"We saw a flash and heard a loud bang all in one moment."

The men were shaken but unhurt and sat on the floor to get as low as possible and wait for the storm to pass.

John said: "After that we just played on. It was only when Gordon walked forward to find his ball that he noticed this brown object which is normally a silver birch tree.

"We did think we could have been killed but it's like missing a putt, once you've missed it you've missed it and you can't do anything about it."

Mike Mennell, greenkeeper at The Fulford Golf Club, said he did not think the 50-year-old silver birch tree would survive as its bark has been stripped off up to 20ft from the ground and there was a crack right down the middle.

A spokeswoman for the PA weather centre said: "If you are caught in the middle of a golf course when lightning strikes run to the nearest building.

"Don't put an umbrella up or go anywhere near golf clubs. Leave them where they are as they could act as a conductor.

"The best thing to do is to crouch down to make yourself smaller and lower to the ground and don't stand under any trees."

PICTURE: Fulford Golf Club: Trio had lucky escape