ISPSHanda Sponsors Day and Clinic at Celtic Manor.

I don't know where to begin with the ISPSHanda Sponsors day, it was so awesome and like a dream.

It started with Craig Thomas from The Golf Academy inviting me to take part and forwarding my information on to Robin Spring from ISPSHanda who contacted my mam for more information. I can't thank Craig enough for thinking of me to take part and cant thank Robin enough for the chasing around he did checking if my mam n dad could join me in the dining room and on the course.

On the day (April 19th) we arrived at Celtic Manor through the huge gates and drove down to the 2010 Clubhouse, i've only ever seen it when i've walked passed entering the Welsh Open but this time we parked and signed in and wow what a place. Pictures of Ryder Cup stars on the walls etc. I went to have a breakfast and thats were I met Tony Lloyd and Andrew Skinner the two other disabled golfers invited by Craig. I also met the staff from ISPSHanda and Robin gave me a cap and said hi. Then Mr Gareth Edwards did a speech. My mam laughed at me because the only sport i'm into is golf so I didnt bat an eyelid at the big named rugby stars etc that were there so dad then told me about Mr Edwards and 'that try'.

Then we headed to find my buggy and my parents walked on down to the 2010 range while I waited for others to come out and to meet the gentleman on the buggy. I was with Mr Russell Phillips, he is the Vice President of Facilities and Development. He was really cool and chatty. The other two gentlemen in the group of four were Mr Tony Passmore and Mr Richard Jones. There was a space set aside for the disabled guest but I didn't realise so went to do chipping and putting then went to the other end of the range to practice so didn't get interviewed or anything by Sky but my friends Tony and Andrew were so il be watching for them on telly.

Then we went to our holes for a shotgun start, Mr Phillips had kindly asked one of the staff to provide my mam n dad with a buggy as dad was caddying for me. Mr Phillips explained we played of 3/4 handicaps so I played off 24 (I dropped to 32 a week before). We went to hole 13 to await the start. It was a par 3 over water. I was a bit nervous but the gentlemen were cool and chatting to me and having a joke. The sound went to begin and I teed off playing it safe and not going over the water but laying up to the side then an iron onto the green. The course was gorgeous and a good but fair test of golf. I played pretty well considering the pain in my back all day and contributed well to the teams stableford points. We stopped at the spike bar after hole 18 for a quick drink and sausage roll then went to the first tee to have our photos taken then continued round the course. As we played Mr Phillips told me lots of info about the course and upkeep etc and like say about the bunkers and how much each one costs to fill etc.

After our round we went back to the spike bar where we were presented with a brilliant first tee photo and an engraved gift tag. I had a chat to Tony Lloyd before he had to leave. Then I got changed ready for the meal, the locker rooms were out of this world and I saw my idols locker Ian Poulter. Mr Phillips then found me and presented me with two box set gifts including an awesome Ryder Cup box set. Mr Passmore then realised i'd not been told about my locker so took me down to see my locker and get more gifts from ISPSHanda and I took photos of the locker and the ones both sides ( Dustin Johnson and Jim Furyk). Then we went through to the members lounge which was so smart and posh and gorgeous. After a short wait we then went into the Samuel Ryder suite for our three course meal. I think I made a few people laugh and started a new trend for food because as part of my sensory processing disorder i've got an eating disorder.....I asked the kitchen for chips instead of the venison meal, they were so kind though and didn't bat an eyelid and brought me a big bowl of chips. After the meal and before dessert Mr Phillips let me go out onto the balcony to take a photo up hole 18. Then after dessert I went to have a chat to Andrew Skinner and then Mrs Katherine Edwards chatted to me and introduced me to her husband Mr Gareth Edwards and they chatted to me about golf and Royal Porthcawl Junior Open which i'll be playing in later this year. Then we had to say our goodbyes to head home.

It was like a dream the day, it was amazing and they all did so much for us all, an awesome experience i'll never forget.