Hi Gary here,

Just a reminder to you good people - please go to Albums (click top or bottom), then click on the link at the bottom ('click here for music with slide show'). You'll be reminded how courageous and determined you Amputees are. Great song too, don't forget to turn your speakers up. :o)

Please also read Aidan's golf story. Aidan started First Swing Golf Clinics at the age of 12 and is now 15.

Enjoy,

Gary

 

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19^th October 2011

DGS NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER 2011

What a memorable weekend the “Auld Enemies Cup” turned out to be, Team England went in as underdogs and emerged victorious, albeit by 1 point. Many thanks to all the players, supporters and support workers. We are already looking forward to defending the Auld Enemies Cup in 2012 and all places are up for grabs.

We want to highlight the NatWest Community Force 2011 – as of today we have only 11 votes out of a DGS membership fast approaching 500. We’d like to invite everyone (and all their friends) to visit the web page and click on the link TO VOTE FOR OURSELVES – simple as that! It will just take you a few minutes as you do just need to enter your email address and make up a password. The more support we get, the greater the chance of NatWest’s support so please follow this link

As we approach the winter and preparations get underway for next year, we are always looking for suggestions on how we can develop DGS events further eg weekends away, area team matches (North v South v Wales), overseas events, Order of Merit for 2012? We are always looking for disabled-friendly courses to hold events and taster sessions (ie driving range, reasonably flat, disabled friendly club house, plenty of buggies but most important clubs that are prepared to go ‘ that extra mile’ for us and understand our ‘not-for-profit’ status (unlike regular society bookings) – so please get in touch with Graeme on 0118 979 0193 if you have any suggestions. Also for things we can be doing over the winter months eg tuition, simulator sessions, maybe a Christmas do?

We’re also looking at how we can take DGS forwards eg sponsorship ideas; we hope to publish a guide to disabled friendly clubs; so any feedback/ideas would be warmly received.

Not forgetting next Weds 26th October sees the last scheduled event for 2011 at Kingswood GC, Hatfield, South Yorkshire – there are just a few spaces left on this ‘bring (or make) a friend’ event which is 4-ball better ball; for more details see here

We hope you all have a great winter and look forward to seeing you in the spring of 2012 if not before.

Warmest regards
The Disabled Golf Society

www.disabledgolfsociety.com

Graeme Robertson, National Events Co-Ordinator
Christopher Smith, DGS Founder/CEO
Sue Robertson, Trustee

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18^th October 2011

Tribute to Don Bigler

It is with sadness that I ask Craig Van Kessel (US Ambassador for SAAGA) to say a few words on behalf of SAAGA at the US Nationals in Phoenix, Arizona

Don was a joy to be around, a no-nonsense and straight to the point kinda guy. I was fortunate enough to have spent time with him at two US Nationals, in Scotland and, of course, last year's South Australian Open.
We spoke at length in regards to our Junior programme; he was very impressed with them; they all took to Don in a big way.

I offer mine and SAAGA's condolences to Billie and the Bigler family.

Don sometimes found it difficult to understand my accent; I nicknamed him" Helmet ". When he asked why I said, because I reckon he never wore a " Helmet " while playing Football. He laughed. I asked whether it was it because he had a thick head, or because he didn't want to flatten the flat top, to which he burst into laughter.

In closing, with permission from the Biglers !!

I would like to name a trophy after Don for our Juniors; it will be the Don Bigler Junior achievement award.

You have left alot of friends behind Don, let's hope they continue on with your tradition, full of POSITIVNESS and the belief to support each and everyone of us.

They broke the mould Don when you left us mate. RIP

Gary Hart

President of SAAGA

On behalf of it's members.

 

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18^th October 2011

Dear…,SAAGA Members

My name is Mario Caya, Managing Director of BIRTEE PRO® golf tees. (Perth, Ontario, Canada) and I have been in contact with Gary Hart (President ) of SAAGA for some time now, He is so impressed by the idea that he sent me your contact information so that I could share my invention with you. Simply because he thinks that my product will be suitable for his members, and suffice to say, many of his contacts around the world of Disabled Golf.

I am also now a proud Sponsor of SAAGA and will continue to support anything that Gary Hart gets behind, including the launch of ADGFInc and the many First Swing Golf Clinics around Australia.

I invented them to help my father-in-law who had a hip replacement and was waiting for a second one, and also for my 3 year old son at the time, who also had problems pushing a regular tee in the ground at a constant height. Six years after the inspiration, the USGA has finally approved my new and improved version of the BIRTEE®, which is the BIRTEE PRO®.

The best way to describe them is EASY CONSISTENCY.

EASY because they simply sit on top of the ground, so that a 2 year old can easily tee it up.

CONSISTENCY because the set is made up of 8 tees ranging in height from ¼ inch to 2 inches by ¼ inch increments.

This offers a perfect CONSTANT height for any size club for any golfer on the planet.

The design was also inspired by my mom, who never played golf in her life, but who went blind 9 years ago. So there are 2 ways of identifying the correct tee or tee height for the visually impaired golfer.

They are also very Durable (I have not managed to break one in over 20 rounds of golf this summer) so they don’t pollute the tee off areas like wooden tees.

They are also Recyclable and they also float, which means that they won’t pollute the bottom of ponds that may be close to tee off areas.

I have just sent Gary some samples for himself and for all of his members at SAAGA. They will be used in the Junior Tournament in November and the SA v Vic Tournament at the Horsham Golf Club in Victoria.

He has also put me in touch with Jim Gales of SDGP in Scotland and I also sent Jim samples for his members and for their upcoming Ryder Cup tournament against England next week.

I'm very excited about this Union as is Gary, I hope you share our enthusiasm to making life a little bit easier for your fellow Golfers.

Please take a few minutes to visit my website: www.birtee.com

My E mail is mario.caya@birtee.com

I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Have a great day,
Mario

UPDATE: Read about the new BirTee Golf tee at examiner.com

 

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9^th October 2011

Hello everyone!!! :)

Hope this email finds you all well.

So, I think the last time I wrote to you I had a couple of tournaments left on the LPGA Futures Schedule.

I had a good finish to the season which I am really pleased about as I remember saying that I was very determined to finish the season on a good note and I did! :)

Anyway, Vidalia, Georgia - finally, a decent result. It was a small city - only about 17,000 people! City of the sweet onions! I really enjoyed playing the golf course there and it was a week of "could have been"!!! I hit the ball really well and gave myself many birdie opportunities but just couldn't make them. The most exciting part of the week would have to have been my 59 metre third shot on a Par 5 went in for eagle!!! That topped off my round for sure and really got me into contention. However, I didn't make the putts I needed to and finished =8th. But a great result for the confidence!

I finished tied 21st the week before in Richmond, Virginia. So I was really starting to feel like my game was finally turning around and the week helped build up some confidence.

And to finish off the season, I finished tied 9th in the Price Chopper Tour Championship in Albany, New York. The last event on our schedule.

It was quite an interesting week, as the North Eastern states were affected by the hurricanes just a week before our tournament. The course was still very very wet and was actually unplayable the day before the event. The fifth hole was closed - you couldn't get through to the 6th unless you had your knee high gumboots on!! But luckily by the time the first group rolled up at 7:30am the next day, the course was playable and the tournament went on as scheduled.

We then had 3 fine days to play our tournament which was quite a big relief for everyone involved in the event. The par of the course was reduced as one hole had to be shortened to a par 3 due to the wet conditions so I had 70, 70, 68 to finish at 2 under for the tournament and in =9th place. Just like the event in Georgia, I gave myself lots of birdie opportunities as I knocked them close but just couldn't quite capitalise on them all. I think I had about 13 birdies in the 3 days so it definitely could have been a really really good week.

Anyway, with the two top 10 finishes in the last two events I moved from 93rd on the money list to 60th. And this means I managed to secure my card for the 2012 season of the Futures Tour. So at least I still have somewhere to play full time next year!

But my goal is to make it through LPGA qualifying school! I got through second stage by finishing third on -8 total. The Top 70 plus ties made it through to final stage from second stage and so I head back home for a month or so and I will be back in the States to play final stage in late November. Exciting times!!! :)

Although, I'm quite disappointed in my performance throughout the season this year, I must say I have learnt so much this year (playing my first full schedule on Tour) that I can't be too down about my results. I learnt so many things about my game, myself as a person, some life lessons and I really feel that I have matured in all aspects. I know I will continue to learn a lot through my career and in life, so I have accepted the season I had and I look forward to moving on and improving some more to get through another and a better season next year.

I also can't forget the good results I had at the start of the year in Oz! It's crazy how I can say how much my game has improved but the last few events I played definitely proved to me it has. I have some good feelings about where my game is headed and it is exciting!!

Thanks for the continued support!!! I have met so many great people this year and I can't thank all my host families enough for making me feel so welcome and being my family away from home! :) I have had such a fun time traveling around the US and have made some life long friends! I'm so grateful for the opportunities I have been given to chase my dream!!!

Thanks a bunch!

Take care,

Steph :)

 

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2^nd October 2011

Hello

As we rapidly approach the end of the 2011 season, here are a few updates from the SDGP.

Team Scotland travels to the Slaley Hall Golf Resort later this week to take on the English team comprising members from the Disabled Golf Society. This is the inaugural "Auld Enemies Cup" and the SDGP's thirteen golfers and their coaches will play over three days, match play golf over the Priestman Course. Daily scores, profiles and team players are all listed on the website.

Due to a cancellation, there is one remaining playing place left at Balbirnie Golf Club for Thursday 13 October. This is a match against the members of the club in a Challenge Cup format.

Places are also rapidly filling for the finale to the season at Tulliallan on Sunday 24 October. This is also a Challenge Cup match and will also be the presentation of annual prizes for the 2011 season. Forms for both games are on the website.

You can now help the SDGP when you shop on line. The SDGP has an account with "Easyfundraising" and by filling out a simple registration yourself, every time you shop on line and go through the "Easyfundraising" site and buy something from your favourite online stores, the SDGP gets a fee. Registration and use of the site is free to you and the SDGP. The link for "Easyfundraising" is on the SDGP website.

2012 games are already being organised and as well as many regular fixtures, there are some new dates and venues to look forward too. One brand new event is the Facebook Users Open at St Andrews. This will be held in August and the SDGP has been offered twelve playing places. We will be joined by another dozen mixed disability players from Australia. Over 300 people will compete at the event and entry will be open to golfers from around the world.

Don't forget the SDGP has a Facebook page where you can find out about games, make comments and keep up to speed with the latest gossip.

SDGP (Scottish Disability Golf Partnership)

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27^th September 2011

It gives me great pleasure to announce this great company BirTee Golf are coming on board as sponsors, what a simple easy to use product that our members will get the chance to use.

It will certainly assist disabled golfers.

www.birtee.com

Enjoy,

Gary Hart
President SAAGA