A tree surgeon who punched a fellow golfer in a row over a wayward shot has been ordered to pay £250 compensation and made the subject of a community rehabilitation order.

Alan Haley was knocked to the ground by 40-year-old Dean Bradley when a row erupted during a round of golf at the Crow Nest Park course in Brighouse.

A Court heard that Bradley became annoyed after a shot missed his head by inches and none of Mr Haley's group had shouted "fore" to warn him.

The 65-year-old was among a group of pals playing behind Bradley and his partner and one of them held up his hand to apologise when his shot on the second fairway landed close to the two men.

Father-of-four Bradley, who was described as a novice golfer enjoying his first day as a member of the club, remonstrated with Mr Haley's group about the incident 13 months ago.

At Bradford Magistrates Court earlier this month Bradley, of Burnley Road, Luddenfoot, Halifax, claimed Mr Haley swore at him and pushed him away as they came face-to-face.

"He raised his arms and I just punched out," he told magistrates. "I just lashed out because I thought he was going to do the same thing. That situation should not have happened. These three guys broke the rules of golf. I was very annoyed."

But Mr Haley told the court he was struck on the side of the face as he was turning away from Bradley.

"I thought I'd had a heart attack," he said. "Everything was black. I didn't understand what happened to me."

The magistrates found Bradley guilty of common assault. Besides the £250 compensation he was also ordered to pay £150 costs and bound over in the sum of £500 to keep the peace for 24 months.

Bradley - who has a previous conviction for common assault dating back to 1995 - was also made the subject of a community rehabilitation order for 18 months.

Bradley - who has a previous conviction for common assault dating back to 1995 - was made the subject of a community rehabilitation order for 18 months.

His solicitor, Iftikhar Ahmed, said: "He still seems to dispute the prosecution's version of events. As far as he is concerned, he was only acting in self defence."

But he added Bradley accepted he had been found guilty and had to live with that.

Bench chairman Alice Brett told Bradley: "You caused physical injuring to an elderly man."

But having considered custody, they accepted it was an "impulsive act".

After the hearing Mr Haley said: "You don't expect that on a golf course."