Welcome back blog fans. I've been thinking about what to write for my review of 2012 for a long time now, and every draft I write just doesn't seen to convey what was a fantastic year.
The problem is that everything moved so fast this year with my golf, then the whole world embraced disabled sport with the awesome Paralympics, then I turned professional in October , won the European order of merit in November, made the final for Oxfordshire disabled sportsperson 2012 in December. And I haven't even mentioned doing the London marathon or silverstone half marathon !!!
As you can see, if I fill a review with EVERYTHING I have done this year it would be massive and probably sound a bit pants...... So, what I have decided to do is just pick out a couple of highlights and use this review to just say.........
Thank you
All of you
Everyone that has supported, encouraged and driven me forward
2012 was the year that special things happened. Not just for me but for disabled people and disabled athletes everywhere. The London 2012 Paralympics was a bittersweet experience for me as I truly truly wanted to be there as a team GB member in pistol shooting. Unfortunately that goal got away from me ( for the time being :-) ), but in a way I was lucky, I was able to watch it all on television and was proud to see my fellow shooters as they entered the stadium. I say I was lucky because I believe it was the kick up the proverbial backside I needed to push myself forward for the rest of the golf season and to pursue my goal of turning pro and playing against able bodied professionals on a recognised professional tour. This, as my blog followers will know, I achieved.
I turned professional at five lakes golf complex in October on the Jamega Pro Golf Tour. I was a nervous wreck for the first round but I enjoyed it none the less. I feel proud to have been the first amputee to turn pro and play on a pro tour but mostly I am excited for the future of the disabled game as the wealth of disabled golf talent that is in the UK is astounding and hopefully there will be more disabled golfers taking the plunge in to the professional ranks. The absolute best thing about it though is that on the course, golf is one of the very few sports that everyone, disabled or able bodied can play together,
As EQUALS
Brilliant.
The other memory of 2012 that will never leave me is winning my first tour event at The Czech Masters. I will never forget that last putt on 18, when I knew it was mine. Add to that the fact I had a hole in one in the pro am before the event and you will understand that I is one of my great life memories that I will treasure.
Anyways... Enough prattling on, I would like to thank the following companies and individuals that helped me make 2012 a year I will never forget and one that will always be in the history books. Without your help and support and guidance and generosity, I could never have achieved anywhere near what we have. Thank you for your trust and confidence in my ability to achieve a dream.
Function18.com.
Oxford golf centre
Bicester golf and country club
S I Developments ltd
Dave Hicks Putters
Toowap
Adam bishop golf
Southfields practice facility
MySP
Duncan Teal
Colin Curtis
My wife Kerry and son Joshua
My lovely blog followers
Craig Collins from children's Christmas wish list
Everybody else !!!!!!
Lastly I'd like to thank the EDGA European tour and Jamega Professional Golf Tour for making me feel so welcome and for providing great tournaments showcasing the best golfers from around the world.
That's about it I think, I've had a brilliant year and feel confident going into 2013 knowing I have built a solid base from which to build from and I really fancy having a bash at getting a go on the next level of professional golf , either europro or challenge tour. That would be a massive challenge and certainly not one that I would be able to achieve without a whole shed load of work and sweat and tears, But I do like a challenge lol. Hopefully I can retain my order of merit title in 2013 and I will be playing as many professional events as I possibly can. It's going to be a tough year but I'm looking forward to giving it a go and seeing how I do. I hope you will join me on my journey and follow my story.....
One last thing.... I was honoured in december when I accompanied a chap called Craig Collins from the charity childrenschristmaswishlist.org to Coventry hospital. Or more specifically, the children's oncology wards. Craig is a tireless fundraiser for the charity and organises charity auctions and functions etc to raise money so that the children that are on the wards over Christmas can have presents. Not only that, the charity has also supplied iPads for the children to concentrate on anything other than their illnesses. I was humbled when I visited the wards with Craig and one of the oncology nurses. These guys are the most professional, caring, warm and wonderful people I have ever met. I wouldn't have either the strength or the heart to be able to work on a ward with children that are sick. I got to meet one little girl who was a patient who would be staying in over the Christmas period and when she saw all the pressies that Craig had brought from the charity I could see in an instant why he does it. It's not for the thank you's and the back patting and the jolly good fellow crap. It's for that look in a child's eye, when for even a fraction of a second, their mind is filled with wonder and excitement and not some illness that would have most adults moaning constantly. I was humbled to have been able to witness that moment in the ward and to meet some of the nurses, they truly are heros. Mr Craig Collins, thank you.
On that it just leaves me to say, happy new year people. May 2013 be the year all your dreams come true.
Monk out
X
The problem is that everything moved so fast this year with my golf, then the whole world embraced disabled sport with the awesome Paralympics, then I turned professional in October , won the European order of merit in November, made the final for Oxfordshire disabled sportsperson 2012 in December. And I haven't even mentioned doing the London marathon or silverstone half marathon !!!
As you can see, if I fill a review with EVERYTHING I have done this year it would be massive and probably sound a bit pants...... So, what I have decided to do is just pick out a couple of highlights and use this review to just say.........
Thank you
All of you
Everyone that has supported, encouraged and driven me forward
2012 was the year that special things happened. Not just for me but for disabled people and disabled athletes everywhere. The London 2012 Paralympics was a bittersweet experience for me as I truly truly wanted to be there as a team GB member in pistol shooting. Unfortunately that goal got away from me ( for the time being :-) ), but in a way I was lucky, I was able to watch it all on television and was proud to see my fellow shooters as they entered the stadium. I say I was lucky because I believe it was the kick up the proverbial backside I needed to push myself forward for the rest of the golf season and to pursue my goal of turning pro and playing against able bodied professionals on a recognised professional tour. This, as my blog followers will know, I achieved.
I turned professional at five lakes golf complex in October on the Jamega Pro Golf Tour. I was a nervous wreck for the first round but I enjoyed it none the less. I feel proud to have been the first amputee to turn pro and play on a pro tour but mostly I am excited for the future of the disabled game as the wealth of disabled golf talent that is in the UK is astounding and hopefully there will be more disabled golfers taking the plunge in to the professional ranks. The absolute best thing about it though is that on the course, golf is one of the very few sports that everyone, disabled or able bodied can play together,
As EQUALS
Brilliant.
The other memory of 2012 that will never leave me is winning my first tour event at The Czech Masters. I will never forget that last putt on 18, when I knew it was mine. Add to that the fact I had a hole in one in the pro am before the event and you will understand that I is one of my great life memories that I will treasure.
Anyways... Enough prattling on, I would like to thank the following companies and individuals that helped me make 2012 a year I will never forget and one that will always be in the history books. Without your help and support and guidance and generosity, I could never have achieved anywhere near what we have. Thank you for your trust and confidence in my ability to achieve a dream.
Function18.com.
Oxford golf centre
Bicester golf and country club
S I Developments ltd
Dave Hicks Putters
Toowap
Adam bishop golf
Southfields practice facility
MySP
Duncan Teal
Colin Curtis
My wife Kerry and son Joshua
My lovely blog followers
Craig Collins from children's Christmas wish list
Everybody else !!!!!!
Lastly I'd like to thank the EDGA European tour and Jamega Professional Golf Tour for making me feel so welcome and for providing great tournaments showcasing the best golfers from around the world.
That's about it I think, I've had a brilliant year and feel confident going into 2013 knowing I have built a solid base from which to build from and I really fancy having a bash at getting a go on the next level of professional golf , either europro or challenge tour. That would be a massive challenge and certainly not one that I would be able to achieve without a whole shed load of work and sweat and tears, But I do like a challenge lol. Hopefully I can retain my order of merit title in 2013 and I will be playing as many professional events as I possibly can. It's going to be a tough year but I'm looking forward to giving it a go and seeing how I do. I hope you will join me on my journey and follow my story.....
One last thing.... I was honoured in december when I accompanied a chap called Craig Collins from the charity childrenschristmaswishlist.org to Coventry hospital. Or more specifically, the children's oncology wards. Craig is a tireless fundraiser for the charity and organises charity auctions and functions etc to raise money so that the children that are on the wards over Christmas can have presents. Not only that, the charity has also supplied iPads for the children to concentrate on anything other than their illnesses. I was humbled when I visited the wards with Craig and one of the oncology nurses. These guys are the most professional, caring, warm and wonderful people I have ever met. I wouldn't have either the strength or the heart to be able to work on a ward with children that are sick. I got to meet one little girl who was a patient who would be staying in over the Christmas period and when she saw all the pressies that Craig had brought from the charity I could see in an instant why he does it. It's not for the thank you's and the back patting and the jolly good fellow crap. It's for that look in a child's eye, when for even a fraction of a second, their mind is filled with wonder and excitement and not some illness that would have most adults moaning constantly. I was humbled to have been able to witness that moment in the ward and to meet some of the nurses, they truly are heros. Mr Craig Collins, thank you.
On that it just leaves me to say, happy new year people. May 2013 be the year all your dreams come true.
Monk out
X