News
Supporting Chromax Goolf Balls
17th November 2013
17th November 2013
Having used yellow golf balls for many years I have to say my recent change to Chromax high visibility balls has been inspired.
A blind friend of mine told me about them earlier this year and Chromax kindly supplied me with some to try and they are now a permanent fixture in my bag. Since switching around June this year I finished second in the Buy it for golf SDGP order of merit (my best finish ever against some 200+ disabled golfers who compete). I finished top blind golfer in the 2013 World Team Cup an shot my best ever sore at Mellville golf club, a level par gross 68.
Clearly not all departures from titleist equipment go wrong.
Thank you to all at Chromax for your support....
A blind friend of mine told me about them earlier this year and Chromax kindly supplied me with some to try and they are now a permanent fixture in my bag. Since switching around June this year I finished second in the Buy it for golf SDGP order of merit (my best finish ever against some 200+ disabled golfers who compete). I finished top blind golfer in the 2013 World Team Cup an shot my best ever sore at Mellville golf club, a level par gross 68.
Clearly not all departures from titleist equipment go wrong.
Thank you to all at Chromax for your support....
Winning on home ground
25th April 2013
25th April 2013
I played in a 2 day SDGP Order of Merit event at my home course Morecambe and managed a win on the first day and a 2nd place on day 2, despite some good golf from all involved, my recent good form preveiled and Im now second in the SDGP Order of Merit after the first 3 events. The tour rolls on to Liberton in Edinburgh and Muckhart in Alloa at the end of May so watch this space.
Inspired by Our Veterans at On Course Foundation event
09th March 2013
09th March 2013
Having joined the On Course Foundation at the end of last year the first event could not come quick enough. March duly arrived and I travelled down to the fabulous St Mellion resort in Cornwall for 3 days of golf and coaching. The golf and coaching was first class with some excellent short game individual and group coaching and 2 rounds of golf in the form of a singles matchplay, a betterball matchplay and a 4 man team event.
Having worked hard over the winter I managed to win my singles match, halve my betterball match and my team won the final day fourball so to come away with two wins and a draw was a great start to the year.
The highlight for me however, was playing with and meeting some amazing and inspirational men who have given heavy sacrifices whilst serving their country in conflicts over the years.
The On Course Foundation is doing some amazing work with some inspirational men and I certainly wish them every continued success.
Having worked hard over the winter I managed to win my singles match, halve my betterball match and my team won the final day fourball so to come away with two wins and a draw was a great start to the year.
The highlight for me however, was playing with and meeting some amazing and inspirational men who have given heavy sacrifices whilst serving their country in conflicts over the years.
The On Course Foundation is doing some amazing work with some inspirational men and I certainly wish them every continued success.
A win at Tulliallan GC
31st October 2011
31st October 2011
The last SDGP event of the season was played at Tulliallan GC with players still jostling for final Order of Merit positions. I needed a good knock to make the top 4 with an outside chance of making 3rd overall. I adopted an unusual strategy of hitting irons off short par 4s. Despite a few short putts going astray I managed to win with 40 stableford points. I finished my first year on the SDGP tour in 4th place on the Order of Merit, which given the llimited number of starts I had, was pretty satisfying. Roll on 2012
AN ACE AT BALBIRNIE
18th October 2011
18th October 2011
Having travelled overnight on Wednesday 12th October to arrive at Balbirnie in Fife for a 10am tee off on the 13th October (good old British Public Transport), I have to say expectation was not high, a thought echoed by my wife who thought I was mad to even try and get there.
I lovely sunny morning with no wind made for great golf (by some). After a pretty average round I came to the 182 yard 14th unsure what to hit as I was not hitting my 5 wood or rescue clubs well. I decide on a 5 iron which I knew I would have to nail to make the distance and nail it I did..... Once I hit the ball I have normally left the tee before the ball has landed as I do not see it other than leaving the clubface. My playing partners John Murray and David Gray thought I had found the front bunker however on arrival the ball was no where to be seen. We searched around somewhat surprised not to have found it, until David checked the hole, There it was , my yellow titleisat at the bottom of the cup.
After 4 more below average holes it was back to the clubhouse for a wee nip or two, the Balbirnie and SDGP members were awesome. Despite 5 stableford points for the ace I only managed 35 points...
The interest in what I later found was only the 5th hole in one by a registered blind person globally was amazing, with newspapers and websites worldwide reporting the event.
The yellow ball, my card and a virtually empty whiskey bottle now takes pride of place on my mantlepiece, along with my 8 year old sons football trophies, he still keeps reminding me despite almost 40 years difference in age, he has far more trophies, I await his first ace......
http://www.golfblogger.co.uk/post/a-vision-impaired-member-of-the-scottish-disability-golf-partnership-achieved-a-holeinone-in-fife-e7e
I lovely sunny morning with no wind made for great golf (by some). After a pretty average round I came to the 182 yard 14th unsure what to hit as I was not hitting my 5 wood or rescue clubs well. I decide on a 5 iron which I knew I would have to nail to make the distance and nail it I did..... Once I hit the ball I have normally left the tee before the ball has landed as I do not see it other than leaving the clubface. My playing partners John Murray and David Gray thought I had found the front bunker however on arrival the ball was no where to be seen. We searched around somewhat surprised not to have found it, until David checked the hole, There it was , my yellow titleisat at the bottom of the cup.
After 4 more below average holes it was back to the clubhouse for a wee nip or two, the Balbirnie and SDGP members were awesome. Despite 5 stableford points for the ace I only managed 35 points...
The interest in what I later found was only the 5th hole in one by a registered blind person globally was amazing, with newspapers and websites worldwide reporting the event.
The yellow ball, my card and a virtually empty whiskey bottle now takes pride of place on my mantlepiece, along with my 8 year old sons football trophies, he still keeps reminding me despite almost 40 years difference in age, he has far more trophies, I await his first ace......
http://www.golfblogger.co.uk/post/a-vision-impaired-member-of-the-scottish-disability-golf-partnership-achieved-a-holeinone-in-fife-e7e
England 12.5 Scotland 11.5
18th October 2011
18th October 2011
After 3 days of close matches and some great golf England narrowly overcame Scotland. Day one saw England win three matches and Scotland two with one being halved.
Two further days of close matches could not seperate the two "auld enemies" and the first days matches turned out to be the difference with England winning overal by a point.
Congratulations to Jim Gales, Stevie Cunningham and Kevin Harmison who managed 3 straight wins.
The main highlight of the event however, was seeing some truly inspirational people playing some awesome golf and overcoming extreme individual difficulties.
Well done to all......
Two further days of close matches could not seperate the two "auld enemies" and the first days matches turned out to be the difference with England winning overal by a point.
Congratulations to Jim Gales, Stevie Cunningham and Kevin Harmison who managed 3 straight wins.
The main highlight of the event however, was seeing some truly inspirational people playing some awesome golf and overcoming extreme individual difficulties.
Well done to all......
The Auld Enemies Cup, Slaley Hall 7th - 9th October 2011
04th October 2011
04th October 2011
The Auld Enemies Cup is a disabled golf competition between Scotland (the SDGP) and England (disabled Golf Society), from the 7-9 October at Slaley Hall Golf resort in Northumberland.
The competition is played over 3 days with the first two days consisting of 6 matches on each day, followed by a final day of 12 singles matches, all matchplay ala Ryder Cup format with some of the best disabled golfers in Britain teeing it up.
I find myself in an rather strange position, I am English (born in South Shields and living in Lancashire) but due to playing most of my golf on the SDGP tour, I am in the top 5 of the order of merit, so I am representing Scotland.......
Watch this space for results and pictures
The competition is played over 3 days with the first two days consisting of 6 matches on each day, followed by a final day of 12 singles matches, all matchplay ala Ryder Cup format with some of the best disabled golfers in Britain teeing it up.
I find myself in an rather strange position, I am English (born in South Shields and living in Lancashire) but due to playing most of my golf on the SDGP tour, I am in the top 5 of the order of merit, so I am representing Scotland.......
Watch this space for results and pictures