Members and coaches of the Edinburgh and Lothian's Blind Association have just won the 2011 Charities Cup title, which was played at the Dukes Golf Club in St Andrews.  The title, previously won by charities including the Guide Dogs for the Blind and VONEF Cupar consisted of Cameron and Jim McDiarmid of Edinburgh and Mike Mayo and Bill routledge of Lanark.  A team from the SDGP returned in second spot.

The Charities Cup, which involves up to ten teams from numerous charities, voluntary groups and organisations, teed off the first match of the Scottish Disability Golf Partnership's 2011 season.

Jim Gales the Chairman of the charity said, "All the staff at the Dukes have made us most welcome at the club for several years now and to start the season at such a tricky and challenging course and for our guys to return some high scoring was great.  The course was in good condition after such a harsh winter and to finish off with a great meal, some good banter in the bar, what more could you want for your golf day out".

Scores for the day were:-

SDGP members - 1st Bob Drysdale of Tayport 36 points (bih).  2nd Cameron McDiarmid of Edinburgh 36
points (bih).  3rd Mike Mayo of Lanark36 points.

SDGP member coaches - 1st Jim McDiarmid of Edinburgh 38 points.  2nd Ian Armstrong of Johnstone 29
points.  3rd Peter Belcher of Edinburgh 25 points.

Charity Cup team scores for 2011 - 1st Edinburgh and Lothian's blind golf 132 points.  Cameron
McDiarmid 36, Jim McDiarmid 38, Mike Mayo 36 and Bill Routledge 22.

2nd SDGP team with 122 points - Bob Drysdale 36, Ernie Finnie 33, Davy More 19 and Jim Sampson 34.

The SDGP now move on to games at Swanston on Thursday 7 April and a golf training and tuition day at the Wellsgreen Academy on Saturday 9 April, where the SDGP will be joined by an Energy Freedom Technique (EFT) Practitioner, who will help individuals to overcome mental and emotional problems associated with the sport.

These free EFT sessions will be available for participants at the Wellsgreen Golf Academy, Kirkcaldy, Fife, on Saturday 9 April, which will run from 09:30 through to 16:00.  There are initially places for fifty disabled golfers and their coaches, guides or carers Alexa Allen, the EFT Practitioner said, "EFT is a form of do-it-yourself acupressure. With EFT we stimulate the acupressure points with our finger tips, whilst making specific statements about the issues that we feel are getting in the way of our performance; pain, emotion, memory, fear etc. This technique neutralises the disruption in our energy field that is causing the 'issue' and therefore leaves us in a more balanced frame of body and mind."

Jim said, "We are always told that golf is 99% in your head, so this technique should be a popular attraction for our disabled golfers and coaches.  This is certainly something new for the SDGP and if in the end it can save us a few shots and keep out some of the on-course frustrations, then we can only give it a try?"

EFT has been growing in popularity since the early 1990's and has been used effectively, world wide, on a range of issues stretching from serious illness and disease symptoms and causes, to phobias, addictions and sports performance.  You can now find scores of sports performance coaches using EFT in their practices.  For a golfer this may present itself as; tension, emotional memory or reaction, personal problems, pain, inflexibility, first tee jitters and yips etc. Despite what your own personal issues, circumstances or disabilities may be, using EFT can eliminate or at least greatly reduce these obstacles to your game.

At Wellsgreen, the SDGP are providing a golf lesson, use of practice facilities, catering and golf on the adjacent course for each person.  A £20 entry deposit, which will be refunded on attendance, is the only requirement for attendees.

Anyone of any age or golfing standard, who has a disability, serious health problem or mobility issue that interferes with the playing of the game and their coaches, guides or carers can attend.

More information can be found at www.sdgp.co.uk. or by emailing info@sdgp.co.uk.