SOMERSET'S David Haines has become the new PGA West Region captain in succession to Martyn Thompson of Parkstone.

The 32-year-old Brean club professional was voted into office at the region's annual meeting at Exeter last week.

His election represents a remarkable peak to a career that was once threatened by an horrific car crash.

"I am looking forward to it. It's a privilege to be invited. When Martyn asked me I was quite surprised.

"But it's good to have younger people involved. It's something you only do once. Hopefully I'll have time to play as much as possible this year and put as much effort into the role as I can."

Haines was captain of the Gloucester and Somerset PGA two years ago and is the present secretary of the two counties.

But his career and life almost came to a tragic end in 1990 when he was involved in a car crash on the M11 while going to play in the Lagonda Trophy tournament at Gog Magog in Cambridgeshire.

He was accompanied by Mark Plummer and Neil Holman. All three were top Somerset amateurs in those days and have gone on to become accomplished professionals.

Holman was driving when the car suddenly rolled over. No one has been able to offer an explanation to this day. But Holman, now the club pro at Churston, came off worst. He suffered a broken neck and other major injuries.

Plummer, now attached to the Manor House, Castle Combe and owner of a golf shop in Kingswood, was asleep on the back seat but was hurled through the window.

He broke several bones and a serious hand injury meant he had to grip the club differently when he eventually recovered.

Haines miraculously was thrown clear and suffered nothing more than severe bruising. He was playing golf again very soon afterwards while the others took months to recover.

"We were lucky to be alive," he said.

Haines was born in Burnham, played all his early golf at the famous links and became one of the West's leading amateur golfers.

He started work as a probationer professional with Mark Crowther-Smith at his home club, Burnham and Berrow, but quickly reverted to amateur status.

But nine years ago he changed his mind and signed on with Graham Coombe at Isle of Wedmore the year after winning the West of England strokeplay at Burnham.

His one disappointment as an amateur was not winning a full England cap. He played at boys and youth level but the nearest to full honours was selection for the training squad in Valderrama in 1990.

Among his other successes were winning the Makilas du Golf swordstick played over three courses in South West France. He reached the final of the British Boys in 1988, was fourth in the Sony European Young Masters in Germany in 1990. He played for Somerset for nine years.

He has another golfing skill that he learned while shaping shots at Burnham.

He is a trick shot specialist and has linked up with his former county colleague Paul Barrington in operating professional golf shows around the country.

Despite their busy commitments Barrington is golf director at the much talked about Players' Club at Codrington, near Bristol they manage to squeeze in engagements.