The Scottish Disability Golf Partnership has just held its first 2010 golf training session, at the Mearns Castle Golf Academy, Newton Mearns. This was the first in a series of their free training and tuition sessions and was provided with the assistance of a grant from the Voluntary Action Fund’s Community Chest.

Pictured, professional Ian Kennedy with a participant from the SDGP

Steve Bramwell, the SDGP Secretary and event organiser said, “This type of training day is a great opportunity for the Partnership to demonstrate to golfers and the general public that having a disability should not be a barrier to continuing to play or to try to take up the sport. Anyone of any age with a disability or serious health issue and their coaches or carers, are invited to participate at any of our PGA tuition and golf days. Non-golfers with a disability or serious health issue are also encouraged to come and “Have a Go”!!”

The Operations Manager at Mearns Castle, Russell Gray, stated, “All the participants had a disability or serious health problem and took part in a day-long session with PGA Professionals based at the Academy and was followed by the chance to test their new found skills on the adjacent golf course.

Our staff here also found new challenges by having to adapt to giving instruction to people who are amputees, the blind or with other mobility issues. However, we managed to do this in a warm and friendly atmosphere and our PGA boys, Mark Loftus, Ian Kennedy and George Boswell. Said they thoroughly enjoyed the day and the banter with the golfers!”

The SDGP Committee and organisers would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at the Voluntary Action Fund’s, Community Chest programme and the staff at Mearns Castle for their kind assistance in the organisation of this event.

Further information about the event and the SDGP can be found at www.sdgp.co.uk. or by email at info@sdgp.co.uk. The SDGP is a registered charity SC041000

SDGP Media Release