Hi Gary here,

Just a reminder to you good people - please go to Albums (click top or bottom), then click on the link at the bottom ('click here for music with slide show'). You'll be reminded how courageous and determined you Amputees are. Great song too, don't forget to turn your speakers up. :o)

Please also read Aidan's golf story. Aidan started First Swing Golf Clinics at the age of 12 and is now 15.

Enjoy,

Gary

 

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29th January 2010

Hi, Gary here,

It gives me great pleasure to announce that First Swing Golf Clinics will start operating from February onwards in Western Australia, with the guidance of Mark Tibbles (Club Professional at The Vines Golf & Country Club) and the support of Scott Armstrong (Golf Manager of the Vines Resort & Country Club).

Chris Crichton and I will implement the First Swing values and introduce the same format that has been successful in South Australia. This means every amputee/disabled person has the same opportunity in Western Australia.

Again, this could not be uphelp without the support of Mark Tibbles and Scott Armstrong of The Vines Resort and Country Club.

I would also like to make mention of the prosthetics centres I have been in contact with in WA…

• The Limb Clinic
• Fremantle Orthotic Services
• Southwest Orthotic/Prosthetic Services
• Ian Robert Burns

I have been fortunate enough to have been in contact with a new amputee, Henri Liebenberg B/K. Henri has golf experience, used to play off of scratch, and has the determination to get through what life has dealt him. He is going to be a big part of First Swing Golf Clinics in WA, with the support of Paul Morgan (Golf Professional of the Bunbury Golf Club).

Another person that will support Amputee Golf in WA is Pat Longhorn A/K, ex-pom living in Woodlands, WA, 3 times British Open Women's Champion, Swedish Open Best Nett Champion, twice Australian Open Women's Champion and the Danish Women's Open Champion.

So, as you can all see, WA will be well represented and our wish will be that amputees of Western Australia will get behind and support the efforts that have been introduced by SAAGA.

Please go to the Calendar to view details of First Swing Golf Clinics and register.

Please read Mark Tipples background below.

See you soon, WA!

Kinds regards,

Gary Hart
President
S.A.A.G.A.

 

The Vines Resort & Country Club in Perth, Western Australia, is home to the Mark Tibbles International Golf Academy. The two championship courses and first-class practice facilities are the perfect setting for both the learning and enjoyment of golf.

The MTI Golf Academy offers a range of golf development programs for players of all abilities covering all facets of the game. Private and semi-private tuition is available by appointment and a structured and progressive range of group tuition programs are scheduled throughout the year.

Our instructors have been trained to the highest standards and offer patient, friendly and professional assistance at all times.

Having turned professional in 1978, Mark has acquired extensive teaching and tournament experience in Australia and Great Britain. He played on the European tour before turning his attention towards a teaching career at the Ealing Golf Club in London.

In 1989 Mark emigrated to Perth. In the following seven years he taught at some of Perth’s busiest public golf courses before becoming the Golf and Sports Manager at the Araluen Country Club. To further his teaching career, Mark relocated to Melbourne, Victoria. After extensive training, he became an accredited Master Golf Instructor with Jack Nicklaus/Jim Flick Golf Schools USA, and was the Lead Instructor in Victoria.

In 1997, Mark established his own golf academy at Brighton located on Melbourne’s famous Sandbelt region. Over the next five years his innovative range of golf development programs introduced more people to golf than any other golf establishment in Victoria.

Mark has had the privilege of working with some of the game’s leading teachers in Australia, Great Britain and the USA and his coaching tips have been featured in instructional columns by a number of newspapers and magazines. Mark's junior programs were recently recognised by the PGA of Australia when he was voted the 2008 PGA of Australia WA/NT Junior Golf Leader of the Year. He has the highest coaching accreditation of AAA with the PGA of Australia and he is a member of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland; and the PGA of Europe.

Please go to the Videos section of this website to view a video of Mark.

 

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27^th January 2010

Tribute to Tom Cross (Qld)

It is with some sadness that I write this note, but also with a lot of happy memories.

I was lucky enough to have met Tom on several occasions, two being at Australian Amputee Golf Opens held at Coolangatta Golf Club, Tweed Heads.

It was my first Amputee Golf Open and I had the pleasure of being greeted by Tom with, 'You Pommy Bastard.' Yes, that was Tom a lovable, Aussie larrikin. Tom was a volunteer at the Aussie Opens; he was always there with a yarn, but most of all always ready to offer help and support. Another Pommy character, Steve Chapman, also took a bit of stick from Tom, but it was all in good fun and part of the crack.

I would like to offer my condolences to the family Tom left behind.

In closing: It was a pleasure knowing Tom for the short time I did. You will be sadly missed by a lot of Amputees; you were certainly a big part of my Amputee Golf.

'Good on ya mate'

Regards,
Gary Hart
President
S.A.A.G.A.

 

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26^th January 2010

Hi everybody, Nev reporting,

The season is off and running with a great turnout for the First Swing Clinic 8 in total.

It became pretty obvious that a couple of us hadn't swung a club since the tournament last year but Gareth and Gary were soon on to us ironing out the crinkly bits. For one of those that did boast a couple of rounds during the break, 'The Demon' caught a bit of flack when his putter started playing tricks on him. It was good to see Chris turn up even though he couldn't swing a club due to back injury. He gave up some well-deserved sack time to bring his sons Brad and Keenan along; that type of commitment always brings a twinkle to Gary's eye. We also had a new addition to the ranks, Geoff, late of Darwin - welcome, but we're obligated to score Geoff one penalty stroke for failing to bring any rain with him. Gareth's comments while wrapping up the Clinic, while not using so many words, were basically, 'practice!, practice!, practice!'.....

See you all at the next First Swing Clinic.

Don't forget, PRACTICE!

Nev Watt

 

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15th January 2010

Hello Again, and a Happy New Year to all,

Well another year of golf is upon us. Last year was another huge success, and hopefully this year will be no different leading up to the 3rd Open in November. The dates and times are up for this years' Golf Clinics and Golf Days; please register. As you are all aware, I am working tirelessly to get First Swing Clinics going in country regions of SA. Chris and I will again visit different areas of SA to encourage more amputees/disabled people out onto the golf course. Again, we hope to have city v. country mini-tournaments. Hope to see you out on the fairways.

Regards,

Gary Hart
President
SAAGA

 

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11^th January 2010

Clubs for Sale

Nike SQ Dymo2 3 Fairway Metal with head cover – virtually brand new - $200
TaylorMade r7 CGB MAX 5 Fairway Metal with adjustable weights and head cover – virtually brand new - $175
Adams Ovation 3 fairway metal – in good condition - $100
Adams Ovation 5 fairway metal – in good condition - $75

Adams a2 OS iron set – graphite shafts – 3, 4, 5 hybrids, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, SW -  in pretty good condition - $125
Adams a3 OS iron set – graphite shafts – 3, 4, 5 hybrids, 6, 7, 8 ,9, PW – in pretty good condition - $150

TaylorMade Burner Plus iron set – 2008 model – graphite shafts – 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW – in good condition - $350

If you are interested in any of these please contact Rodney Coombe on 0412320787. Clubs are pickup only and will not be posted.