Computer boffin Alan Deakins, 40, claims he has been unable to work since being injured by the wayward shot on Christmas Eve, 2006, at the former British colony's up market Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club.

Deakins, who was employed by international bank, said he was walking up the 13th fairway when he we was struck by a golf ball hit from the 14th hole, The Standard newspaper reported on Monday..

In a statement filed in the Hong Kong High Court, Deakins alleges that negligence on the part of Humphrey Leung Kwong-wai, chief executive of the microchip company Solomon Systech, was to blame for his head injury.

Deakin's lawyer said at a pretrial hearing in the High Court on Monday that his client had been left with health problems including tinnitus, a condition in which a person hears constant ringing in the ears.

"Mr Deakins' medical treatment is not cheap and I'm afraid his life is ruined. He cannot work and will never work again. It's very sad," said his lawyer.

Leung, is disputing the claim for damages and is expected to deny charges of negligence.

The court will conduct a site visit to the golf club next month and follow that up with a second pretrial review in January.

In 1999, a woman caddie was awarded HK$89 000 after being struck in the mouth at Hong Kong Golf Club by a golf ball hit by a golfer whose bag she was carrying.