DGA Brynmeadows.

On June 18th 2013 I returned to Brynmeadows a year after my first win there, well first win anywhere. The competition was the next one on the Race to Wales tour with the Disabled Golf Association. I wasn't sure how I'd do because my tourettes has been so bad since the last competition ive been exhausted and getting no sleep and little golf practice.

The front nine played long and difficult and I struggled to get going and get any momentum but I did manage to score at least one stableford point on each hole and managed to keep my cool too. After ploughing through the front nine I had 14 stableford points.

The back nine though I found my rhythm and got stuck into it. My driving was spot on, my approach play was good, I had a near hole in one on a 150 yard par three hole, and an awesome 30 yard chip in. I returned to the clubhouse with 26 stableford points for the back nine so handed my card in with 40 stableford points on it. 

I was so chuffed to get the win, I also had a handicap cut again so playing off 30 with the DGA and have put the card in with my home club for my official congu handicap. So I defended my title as I won for a second time there and got very valuable and needed points for the Race to Wales Order of Merit......im now back in the lead :)

DGA Alice Springs.

On June the 5th I played the latest competition on the Disabled Golf Associations Race to Wales at Alice Springs. I started off brilliantly with a cracking drive and then an iron on to an elevated green then one putted for a net 3 on a par 4 for 4 stableford points. The rest of the front nine tested everyone me included and it was tough going and I had to really struggle to keep my head but I managed to grind out 14 stableford points. I got my rhythm and swing spot on on the back nine and got 22 stableford points. I finished the round playing it too handicap and with 36 stableford points. Through the round my Tourettes tics were getting worse (I always have tics but they have stages of being really bad) but the guys were great and didn't say a word about them, just kept me positive and reassured me and encouraged me. I won second place, lost out on first place by one stableford point. I also won the secret holes competition they do....they pick a random 3 holes and whoever scored the most stableford points on them 3 wins...they had to do a five hole count back in the end and I won on the fifth hole...it was my net birdie on the first.

Practice makes permanent.....

Since the competition ive been doing a lot of practice both at the range and on the course, im trying hard to find ways to stop my head and meltdowns affecting my golf but its not easy. I've had some tips off a few golfing friends on twitter which are cool and im using. Heres just a few photos of me on the course etc.

DGA Wernddu competition.

On May 20th I played at Wernddu golf club with the Disabled Golf Association. After our rolls I knocked a few balls in the range to warm up. I was in the first group out and started as I hoped to go...3 stableford points on the first par 3. The course is a good test of golf with some long par 4 and long par 5 holes to play along with the usual length par 3, 4, and 5's. I had a few blips through the round and struggled to keep my calm but overall I played a steady round and played to my handicap and came in third place with 34 stableford points.

Golf Live.

On Friday we went to Golf Live at the Celtic Manor. We started by watching Montys short game clinic which was really good and I learnt lots from. He explained things in a really simple easy way. Then I went to the sharpie tent with my photo from the ISPSHanda Sponsors day....when it was my turn Monty chatted to me about the day and signed my picture n I had a photo with him then Simon Holmes signed my picture and told me I had a really impressive follow thru which is cool as he coaches big stars then I had a photo with him.. On our way to the Joe Miller show we were handed a box with a Srixon ball in n told to take them to the Srixon/Cleveland stand to check if they were a winning ball.....mine had an invisible ink W in the box and on the ball so I won a Cleveland 558 RTX Black Pearl 52 deg wedge :) Then we went to watch Joe Miller....talk about a long driver of the ball!!!!! After that I went to American Golf n really felt like hitting some balls and spotted a Ping Hybrid I liked the look of and they let me try it on the range n the ball was flying so good that dad bought we the hybrid. I went to try the Nearest the Pin and didn't do too bad....no way i'd beat the one that was inches from the hole tho :0 We went to look in the Tented village and I had a photo taken by the Ryder Cup and also a photo holding the Claret Jug. We went to watch the Paul Barrington trick shot show then and he asked for volunteers so I put my hand up and got picked and it was such a laugh n fun. After that we made our way home.

DGA Cradoc.

This week I played at Cradoc with the Disabled Golf Association, it wasn't exactly a success ... i'd had a really bad night and probably shouldn't have gone but did.....I played ok n on hole 14 had 25 points but was in pain and couldn't breath and also my head was shot so my dad pulled me off the course before I had a full on meltdown on the course. I was really upset that day and felt like my golf was bad and didn't like the way my disabilities affect my golf but have calmed down and learnt from it and am ready to play Wernddu later this month.

Special Olympics Golf

I'm not able to take part in the actual Special Olympics because my IQ is too high but am allowed to go to the new classes that have started in Barry, they are run by the man who is my coach John Hastings (May 2013). I went last Friday and met some of the other guys taking part and it was great fun and also inspiring because some are way more disabled than me and I don't have it easy so they must really have a tough time but they were loving the golf and having fun and laughing. It made me think about when I grow up and rather than be a Tour Pro in America i'd like to become a Teaching/Coaching Pro and specialize in teaching all disabled people with all disabilities. I didn't go tonight because we were at golf live but am going next Friday.