News Page

Nationals and Northern Open postponed

Terry Kirby has had a successful shoulder operation and has had to cancel most of his active participation for 3 months on surgeon's advice. Hence the Northern Open has been postponed until next season and The Nationals will take place on July 5th at Cobtreee Manor Kent on July 5th as shown on the Diary page.

Help for student reseacher wanted

The following request has been received by the Chairman and you are asked to deal directly with the researcher if you can assist.

Dissertation Research

My name is Amy Spencer and I am currently undergoing my third and final year at the University of Chichester studying Sport and Exercise Psychology. I have to conduct a Independent Project which consists of applying knowledge, concepts, techniques and research methods I have learnt to an in-depth study of a particular question, debate or problem within sport, exercise or recreation. I am highly enthusiastic to see whether there is any difference in motivation between disabled and able-bodied golfers. I would also like to investigate how and why people are motivated to part-take in this particular sport. I am asking if there are any experienced disabled golfers who like to play at competitive level or even enjoy playing golf just to reduce their handicap and are willing to allow myself to conduct around a half an hour interview and discuss self-determination and motivation levels. I would be very grateful if you could contact me if interested at: aimee_89@tiscali.co.uk

Thanks again

Amy Spencer

Two great donations from Oxfordshire golfers

The Honourable Company of Oxfordshire Golfers (Hon. Sec. Roger Harmann) have raised two donations for The Handigolf Foundation this year (£750 + £500) this season. They have requested that it is put towards buggy development for the improved play of competitive golf by UK Handigolfers. The Foundation is most grateful for these unexpected donations and is intent on making the most of them.

GENEROUS DONATION FROM NORTH EAST GOLF CLUB (MATFEN)

The ladies section of the above golf club led by Iris Stafford has given The Handigolf Foundation a donation of £200 which came out-of-the-blue. We are most grateful for such donations from within the sport and it will go towards buggy development.This year has been quite expensive in terms of buggy breakdown but they have been used in some new venues paerticularly the British Disabled Open at Old Thorns

TENERIFE OPEN NOV 29th-DEC 3rd

Details have just come through about this tournament this year!!! It seems that communication channels are not that effective.See the web link below for more details

click here for the tournament details

MAJOR GRANT FROM R&A

After a considerable campaign, the R&A have awarded our charity £5000 for the development of our golf buggy design. The Paragolfer and Powergolfer (both made in Gernmany) are very complex and very expensive. We need to decide how to improve the specification and how to get it designed and made by a British manufacturer for the continued development of UK disabled golf. Watch this space.

2009 Masters Results

The 2009 "Masters" was once again played at the wheelchair-friendly Wavendon Golf Centre in Milton Keynes. For the first time this year the "Chris Brown Memorial" trophy was awarded to the second place player (nett). After a poor start Terry Kirby caught up Tucker Chance and got first place to become holder of the Masters trophy. Tucker held his nerve to grab the "Chris Brown" trophy.

Disabled British Open 2009 results

The Handigolf Foundation had four players in the + 18.5 Handicap section of the Disabled Open played at Old Thorns Hants. in August. The full results are shown at http://www.disabledbritishopen.org/ but our best player was Northern Ireland's Mark Gibson who is our current National Champion who came in a very worthy 8th in his section. Well done Mark and let's have more entrants next year.

2009 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mark Gibson travelled over to our National Championships from Belfast and won with a nett 72 playiong off 19 handicap. The Darenth Valley course was as tough as it can be with high winds, dry fairways and spiked-spongy greens. However it was the same for everyone and Mark prevailed on his home-made buggy. Who needs a Paragolfer !!!
The event was organised as ever by Eric and Tony Tofield with their friends from West Kent and other local clubs. The sponsors were local IT people Modular Solutions and Davis Accessible Transport of Sevenoaks. Hence the motorbike !!!

THE HANDIGOLF FOUNDATION AT "BEYOND BOUNDARIES"

Terry Kirby and Andy Greasley spent the two days before the Nationals trying to find new members and funding at this big exhibition at Farnborough airport. Mark Gibson and Eric Tofeld also called in and added their support.It was a good success as we were next the the mobile golf range run by Karen and Vaughan who have played in our events as able-bodied coaches who now coach Greg Airth.

Several promising players had a go so we can expect a few new members for next season.

NEW TOURNAMENT DETAILS

The inaugural "disabled british open " has been arranged for August 23rd and 24th at Old Thorns club in Hampshire.

It is open to Handigolfers as Henry Alliss has cleared it to allow buggies onto greens.

However the handicap limit is 28 and I advise Handigolfers with handicaps over 35 not to enter as they will not be competitive and risk our viability at this stage.

We will campaign to get the limit increased to include a wider range of disability in the future.

Entry is by printing off the application form from www.disabledbritishopen.org at a cost of £50 for the accomodation and 2 rounds of golf on a top course.

ENGLISH GOLF PARTNERSHIP HANDICAP PROPOSAL

Shown below is a new proposal for disabled golf handicaps which is most interesting above 28. It only differs from ours in that you come down more slowly but does assume everyone belongs to a golf club.