Hi Everyone,
Hope you all had a great Easter.
Yes, this is our third newsletter. As mentioned in our last newsletter, the First Swing Clinics are going great and I may have to add a third clinic during the month to accommodate all interested participants.
Well, since we last spoke, there has been an Australian Amputee Golf Open which was played at The Federal Golf Club in Canberra. This consisted of 40 competitors from all around Australia and New Zealand and we also had an international competitor from Scotland.
Chris Crichton (Secretary) and I both represented South Australia as Rodney Coombs was unable to attend due to his long awaited travel plans to Europe and the U.S. Hope you had a good time Rod. See you at the next clinic.
I was very fortunate to have won the Above Knee Division, making me the Australian Amputee Above Knee Nett Winner. The overall Gross Winner and Australian Amputee Open Champion was Geoff Nicholas, NSW (Well done Geoff) while the overall Nett Winner was Brad Hardman, NSW. The Seniors Division Winner was Graham Kenyon, VIC, with other divisional winners being Tony Hamley, ACT, Above Elbow; Ike Stalling, QLD, Below Elbow; Ben Tullipan, QLD, Double Amputee; Steve Smith, NSW, Below Knee (Steve was also one of the organisers); and Sue Nelson, NSW, Ladies Division. Wayne Riley (Radar), Golf Professional, was the presenter of the trophies – thank you Wayne.
A big well done to the winners but most of all a big pat on the back and well done to all who attended and competed. We are all winners.
I was very pleased at the great interest shown among the competitors at the Open for the upcoming first SA Amputee Golf Open. With this in mind, combined with the interest from overseas and the many new participants from the First Swing Clinics of South Australia it is gearing up to be a large field.
I would like to make mention of the upcoming QLD Amputee Open to be held from 18th to 20 th April 2008 at Palm Meadows on the Gold Coast. Go to our Home Page for information.
In closing, I must say that I am really proud of the participants of the First Swing Clinics of South Australia and I encourage you to keep going and be pleased with your progress. See you out there.
Gary Hart
President
