A golfer accidently set fire to a course after he snagged a rock during his downswing, it has been revealed.

The unnamed man was playing at the Shady Canyon Golf Course when his approach shot landed in the rough.

This is a familiar position for many amateur golfers, although perhaps the worst that can be expected from the rough is that the ball gets tangled up in the grass and only moves a few yards during the next shot.

Alternatively, a player could end up topping their ball and watch it shooting over the other side of the green.

However, playing from the rough at the Shady Canyon Golf Course is clearly a dangerous business as the golfer managed to set the surrounding foliage ablaze when attempting to fire his ball at the flag.

While striking the golf ball, the golfer hit a rock with his club which sent a spark into the grass.

The resulting inferno spread over the 12-acre course and took 150 firefighters to control.

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