THERE is no doubting Aaron Moon's spirit and will to succeed.

The Bolton golfer is set to be one of the world’s first amputees to gain PGA professional status.

Aaron suffered horrendous, life-changing wounds, losing a leg while serving with the Royal Marines in Afghanistan seven years ago.

But he is making huge progress towards achieving his ambition after signing on as an assistant at his hometown club.

“I am part-way through my degree course and confident of making the grade,” said the 29-year-old, who has already landed a number of sponsorship deals and played in his first PGA pro-am event.

“It wasn’t the most memorable debut,” he admitted as he reflected on his first professional outing at Fleetwood last November.

“The weather was so dreadful that the competition was reduced to nine holes. One professional broke his leg after slipping and had to be air-lifted to hospital.”

Though that bizarre incident is nothing compared to the day Aaron suffered catastrophic injuries in Afghanistan.

“I was in a vehicle which was blown up – I lost my right leg below the knee and dislocated my left one. I also broke my femur, back and pelvis,” he said.

“I used to play rugby with the Marines until then so I went back to golf where I’d learned the game at Bolton Old Links.”

His quest for fully-fledged professional status is being helped by David Llewellyn.

The former European Tour player runs the On Course Foundation, a charity supporting the recovery of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans through golf.

“I’ve had several lessons with him and he’s a phenomenal coach,” said Aaron, an ambassador for the foundation, who was handed £1,017 for the cause at Oak Royal Golf Club, near Chorley.

It was the charity chosen by Oak Royal captain Brian Woodhead and half of the £2,000-plus he raised as he completed his year of office.

Aaron – who walked 54 holes in a day to help raise £10,000 for a local cancer victim to receive treatment in Germany – was guest of honour at an event to complete Brian's 12-month stint.

Currently under the tutelage of his boss Ian Orrell, head PGA professional at Bolton, Aaron eventually plans to coach disabled people and become the first amputee professional golfer in the UK.