A FATHER has paid tribute to his golf-loving son who died suddenly from a rare heart condition, aged just 28. Marcus Armstrong was a member of Harwich and Dovercourt golf club and often starred for them in tournaments, playing off a single-figure handicap.

A FATHER has paid tribute to his golf-loving son who died suddenly from a rare heart condition, aged just 28.

Marcus Armstrong was a member of Harwich and Dovercourt golf club and often starred for them in tournaments, playing off a single-figure handicap.

But the fit and healthy taxi driver collapsed and died suddenly outside his home in Colchester from a rare condition which led to a main artery splitting just an inch away from his heart.

Mr Armstrong lived with Lucy Hammond, 24, his partner of five years, and they were looking forward to going to a musical festival in Winchester after Mr Armstrong won tickets on a local radio show by describing how much Miss Hammond deserved them.

It was as he was installing a satellite navigation system for the journey that he collapsed.

Mr Armstrong's father, Tony, from Wix, paid tribute to his son and the way he led his life.

He said: “You can see what kind of person he was by looking at the messages in all the cards we have been sent - he was a person who always had a smile on his face.

“He had been as happy as I had ever known in recent weeks - that is why it is so hard, knowing that he was so happy with the future looking good for him.”

He said a burial plot had been arranged overlooking the golf course where his son had enjoyed so many happy times.

“He will be able to sit and tell us where all our shots have gone wrong. He could hit a ball further than I could dream of, it was a natural gift.

“He was playing golf right up to the end as it was just an illness that nobody detected and it is possible he had it from when he was a child,” he said.

Mr Armstrong said his son's other passions in life were his Lotus sports car and supporting Harwich and Parkston Football Club, where his brother, Adrian, 26, plays.

Mr Armstrong and his wife, Jackie, have received nearly 300 sympathy cards for the former pupil of Mayflower Primary School, Ramsey Primary School and Harwich School.

The funeral is to take place on Friday at St Nicholas's Church, Harwich, and One Day, a song written and performed by Miss Hammond, a music teacher, will be played.

The family have asked for donations to go to a bursary fund for developing young players at Harwich and Dovercourt Golf Club.