The members and coaches of the Scottish Disability Golf Partnership have just wrapped up another month of golf training and competition at various Scottish venues.

During July the SDGP took a second group of beginners and trainees to the Newton Mearnes Golf Academy for their latest PGA supervised golf training and tuition session, which was funded by the Voluntary Action Schemes, Government Funded Community Chest Programme.  Many of the youngsters and some more established golfers received a golf lesson, as much additional practise as they wanted and a round of golf on the adjacent golf course.  The excellent facilities and the fastidious staff at the Academy added considerably to the enjoyment of everyone.

The weather at Newton Mearns was great for the training day, however at the SDGP's next trip to Bonnyton Golf Club, things took a turn for the worse and at the course near Eaglesham, the group were unlucky enough to have constant rain, but that did not dampen the spirits of the SDGP golfers.

Event organiser and Bonnyton member Rob Steele said "We were unfortunate not to get the weather but the course is in great condition, particularly the greens.  The course is a credit to the green staff of the golf club." All SDGP members played 9 holes and were treated to a warm reception back
at the club house, once dry they sampled the superb food and hospitality on offer there".

Results from the match

1st place FROM Edinburgh Steve Cunningham with 16 points

2nd place also from Edinburgh, Mark Belcher 15 points

3rd place from Glasgow Ian White 15 points

Coaches all with 18 points, result calculated on count back

1st place Ian Adam of Lanark

2nd place Rob Steele of Bonnyton Golf Club

3rd place Jim McLeod of Glasgow

Team winners Ian Adam, Lawrence Jaconelli, Alan Bruce and Steve Bramwell with 31 points.

The golfers, now successfully dried out, moved on to another brand new fixture for the SDGP, to play in another round for their 2010 Scottish Order of Merit Championship.  This time the players came from various parts of Scotland, to the East Renfrewshire Golf Club.

"The course was quite tough and long, but we were dry and in good company, said one of the new members attending.  "It was nice once again to play on good steady greens and well manicured fairways; we had no excuses at all if we played badly at this course".

SDGP winning players at East Renfrewshire were

1st Ian White of Glasgow 35 points

2nd Jim Gales of Fife 35 points

3rd Bob Drysdale also of Fife 34 points

SDGP Coaches results at East Renfrewshire

1st Lawrence Jaconelli of Stirling 35 points

2nd Jim McDiarmid of Edinburgh 32 points

3rd Brendon DeFelice of Glasgow 27 points

Team winners with 67 points were Jim McDiarmid, Cameron McDiarmid Bob Drysdale and local member George Lesley

The Scottish Disability Golf Partnership is the only group in Scotland which actively encourages and involves anyone of any age, with a disability, serious health problem or mobility issue and their coaches, who wish to play golf and includes amputees, the blind, deaf, those with learning difficulties, downs syndrome, stroke and heart attack victims, wheelchair users and anyone with
other similar issues, who wish to learn or play the sport

The SDGP now moves into its August fixtures, which include games at Glenbervie, Newmacher and the Carrick on Loch Lomond.  Its next free PGA supervised golf training day will be at Wellsgreen Golf Academy on Sunday 5 September.  Anyone interested should have a look at the SDGP website at
www.sdgp.co.uk.