Wow, what a three days I have had at the crown plaza five lakes resort in Essex. When I played on the England team here in the home nations trophy earlier this year I never dreamt that it would be the venue for one of the best experiences of my sporting career so far. I was welcomed on arrival by the lovely Sally from the jamega tour and was issued with my yardage book and local rules and given a general run down of how things worked the next day for the first round. Sally was great and when my caddy asked for a copy of the yardage book she told him " oh sorry, they are for the pros only " and I must admit I was trying really hard to supress a smile :-). ( sorry Gerry ).
I then got to meet Tony from Jamega and the rest of the team and I was blown away by how friendly and welcoming they were. Even the course itself gave me the use of a buggy for the three days I was there for free which was a great help financially , THANKS GUYS !!!
So, it was over with the nicities and down to some business, of to the range and then onto the green and out for a practice round to see what was in store for me.
I had a good warm up and was very happy with the ball striking, but yet again, it was on the greens that the problems started to rear their head again, hmmmm not good but never mind, and out for the practice round I go.
I couldn't believe it !!! I was playing some really nice golf :-). I was level after the front 9 and with 2 late birdies I shot a 70 and was really looking forward to the first shot next day. The putting problems didn't seem to be happening and the confidence was on the up :-).
Bring it on I said..........
"you got it" said the course.........
And so my journey as a professional golfer ( albeit not a great one :-) ) was about to begin.
The time was 10:53am
The day was Tuesday 9th October 2012
I was stood looking down the fairway of the 1st hole, surrounded by Jamega tour signs and an announcer in a matching gazebo on the back of the tee having just said " representing S I Developments and Bicester Golf and Country Club......Andy Gardiner ".
Ahead of me, about 30yards was Brennan Nichols from BBC tv, with a camera pointed at me to capture the moment.
I could hear my heart beating in my ears, my vision went fuzzy ( not a good thing ) I was just seconds away from fulfilling a dream of mine. To play in a pro event as a pro, to play as a golfer, not a disabled golfer. For once, since my injury, I feel injury less if that makes sense. I felt like I was ten feet tall. Sure, my leg was still screaming at me to get off it, the pain didn't leave my leg or my knee or my hip, but at that point in time, that moment, it didn't matter. I had one job to do that transcended any pain or emotion I felt, and that was to smack this little ball down the fairway and break new ground in so far as an amputee golfer competing on a level playing field with able bodied golfers. To show that sports can be inclusive for all and that if you have a dream you can achieve it. I know that there are golfers all over Europe that are itching to play in pro events and give up their amateur status and they have supported me on my journey to this little patch of grass where history will be made.
I pick my line, just on the left of the right hand bunker with a touch of draw, 3 wood, not driver ( for position ).
I approach the ball and take my stance.
I take the club back and .........
Crack !!!!
There it goes..... Slightly left of centre but just what I wanted and there it was, the wait was over, my journey had begun.
I started with 2 good pars and should have made birdie from 4 foot on 3rd but oh no, mr I don't want to putt came out to play again !! I must have missed so many chances it was unbelievable, even when I was giving myself dead cert birdie chances I was 3 putting :-(.
I scraped my way round and felt battered and bruised with a shocking 88 !!
As my caddy went to have a bit of a chinwag after the round I headed to the putting green and me, 6 balls and around 300 putts got acquainted. By the time I had finished I again had confidence in the putting stroke, convinced myself it was first day nerves and now that I have the putting stroke sorted all will be well in the second round. After my poor showing, I was in the first group off in the morning at 8:30. I went to bed confident I could improve on day one. I couldn't wait to get back out there and have another go at taming the beastie like I did on practice day.
Day 2 started the same way that day one ended, I couldn't catch a break on the greens. I was either pulling up short or I was lipping out or the bloomin ball would horseshoe round the cup and come back at me and after some more scrambling and more bunkers than I care to remember I hit a second 88 on the bounce.
My putting has really developed problems, to the point I don't know what I'm doing. :-(.
However.
The monk has a plan :-)
With just two events left on my calendar, studley wood with jamega tour and the French open in Paris there is a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time but I do love a challenge and putting wil not beat me. I intend to get some serious work done over the next week to get ready for Paris national ( French open ) and to tie up the European order of merit title.
So I left Essex knowing I hadn't had the chance to show my true worth on the greens but one thing did brighten my heart and that is this.........
Now I have played as a pro, others will think, "I can do that " and they will, and then more will, and more and one day there will be no distinction between able bodied and disabled golfers, we will all just be one thing........
Golfers
There are so many people to thank for their support and their help and guidance along the way just for me to get here. I will unfortunately forget some on this list and if that is you, I'm sorry, it's not intentional I assure you.
Function18.com for my awesome clothing
S I development
Bicester golf and country club
Banbury golf club
Oxford golf centre
My family of course
Super dunk and woggle the super caddys
Adam bishop golf
Toowap gps systems
My SP golf
JAMEGA Tour for their forward thinking
BBC and ITV Oxford
All my friends on the EDGA tour
And of course..... You, my blog readers. Your messages of support are awesome and always manage to make me smile.
I dedicate my turning pro to all of you above because without you, this would not of happened, do from the bottom of my heart, Thank You. X
So for my final words on the most amazing few days of my life, it is a message for my golfing friends near and far...........
DISABLED GOLFERS OF THE UK AND EUROPE, LET'S SHOW EUROPE AND THE WORLD, EXACTLY WHAT QUALITY OF GOLF THERE IS OUT HERE. LET'S SHOW THE WORLD WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE SHOWN ME OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS, DISABILTY IS NO OBSTACLE TO ACHIEVING YOUR DREAMS. MY GOLFING FRIENDS FROM OVER THE WORLD INSPIRED ME TO TURN PRO AND IF TOGETHER WE CAN INSPIRE ONE MORE PERSON TO PLAY OUR GREAT SPORT, WE HAVE ACIEVED OUR AIMS.
For now ladies and gents
Monk ( amputee professional golfer ) out
X
I then got to meet Tony from Jamega and the rest of the team and I was blown away by how friendly and welcoming they were. Even the course itself gave me the use of a buggy for the three days I was there for free which was a great help financially , THANKS GUYS !!!
So, it was over with the nicities and down to some business, of to the range and then onto the green and out for a practice round to see what was in store for me.
I had a good warm up and was very happy with the ball striking, but yet again, it was on the greens that the problems started to rear their head again, hmmmm not good but never mind, and out for the practice round I go.
I couldn't believe it !!! I was playing some really nice golf :-). I was level after the front 9 and with 2 late birdies I shot a 70 and was really looking forward to the first shot next day. The putting problems didn't seem to be happening and the confidence was on the up :-).
Bring it on I said..........
"you got it" said the course.........
And so my journey as a professional golfer ( albeit not a great one :-) ) was about to begin.
The time was 10:53am
The day was Tuesday 9th October 2012
I was stood looking down the fairway of the 1st hole, surrounded by Jamega tour signs and an announcer in a matching gazebo on the back of the tee having just said " representing S I Developments and Bicester Golf and Country Club......Andy Gardiner ".
Ahead of me, about 30yards was Brennan Nichols from BBC tv, with a camera pointed at me to capture the moment.
I could hear my heart beating in my ears, my vision went fuzzy ( not a good thing ) I was just seconds away from fulfilling a dream of mine. To play in a pro event as a pro, to play as a golfer, not a disabled golfer. For once, since my injury, I feel injury less if that makes sense. I felt like I was ten feet tall. Sure, my leg was still screaming at me to get off it, the pain didn't leave my leg or my knee or my hip, but at that point in time, that moment, it didn't matter. I had one job to do that transcended any pain or emotion I felt, and that was to smack this little ball down the fairway and break new ground in so far as an amputee golfer competing on a level playing field with able bodied golfers. To show that sports can be inclusive for all and that if you have a dream you can achieve it. I know that there are golfers all over Europe that are itching to play in pro events and give up their amateur status and they have supported me on my journey to this little patch of grass where history will be made.
I pick my line, just on the left of the right hand bunker with a touch of draw, 3 wood, not driver ( for position ).
I approach the ball and take my stance.
I take the club back and .........
Crack !!!!
There it goes..... Slightly left of centre but just what I wanted and there it was, the wait was over, my journey had begun.
I started with 2 good pars and should have made birdie from 4 foot on 3rd but oh no, mr I don't want to putt came out to play again !! I must have missed so many chances it was unbelievable, even when I was giving myself dead cert birdie chances I was 3 putting :-(.
I scraped my way round and felt battered and bruised with a shocking 88 !!
As my caddy went to have a bit of a chinwag after the round I headed to the putting green and me, 6 balls and around 300 putts got acquainted. By the time I had finished I again had confidence in the putting stroke, convinced myself it was first day nerves and now that I have the putting stroke sorted all will be well in the second round. After my poor showing, I was in the first group off in the morning at 8:30. I went to bed confident I could improve on day one. I couldn't wait to get back out there and have another go at taming the beastie like I did on practice day.
Day 2 started the same way that day one ended, I couldn't catch a break on the greens. I was either pulling up short or I was lipping out or the bloomin ball would horseshoe round the cup and come back at me and after some more scrambling and more bunkers than I care to remember I hit a second 88 on the bounce.
My putting has really developed problems, to the point I don't know what I'm doing. :-(.
However.
The monk has a plan :-)
With just two events left on my calendar, studley wood with jamega tour and the French open in Paris there is a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time but I do love a challenge and putting wil not beat me. I intend to get some serious work done over the next week to get ready for Paris national ( French open ) and to tie up the European order of merit title.
So I left Essex knowing I hadn't had the chance to show my true worth on the greens but one thing did brighten my heart and that is this.........
Now I have played as a pro, others will think, "I can do that " and they will, and then more will, and more and one day there will be no distinction between able bodied and disabled golfers, we will all just be one thing........
Golfers
There are so many people to thank for their support and their help and guidance along the way just for me to get here. I will unfortunately forget some on this list and if that is you, I'm sorry, it's not intentional I assure you.
Function18.com for my awesome clothing
S I development
Bicester golf and country club
Banbury golf club
Oxford golf centre
My family of course
Super dunk and woggle the super caddys
Adam bishop golf
Toowap gps systems
My SP golf
JAMEGA Tour for their forward thinking
BBC and ITV Oxford
All my friends on the EDGA tour
And of course..... You, my blog readers. Your messages of support are awesome and always manage to make me smile.
I dedicate my turning pro to all of you above because without you, this would not of happened, do from the bottom of my heart, Thank You. X
So for my final words on the most amazing few days of my life, it is a message for my golfing friends near and far...........
DISABLED GOLFERS OF THE UK AND EUROPE, LET'S SHOW EUROPE AND THE WORLD, EXACTLY WHAT QUALITY OF GOLF THERE IS OUT HERE. LET'S SHOW THE WORLD WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE SHOWN ME OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS, DISABILTY IS NO OBSTACLE TO ACHIEVING YOUR DREAMS. MY GOLFING FRIENDS FROM OVER THE WORLD INSPIRED ME TO TURN PRO AND IF TOGETHER WE CAN INSPIRE ONE MORE PERSON TO PLAY OUR GREAT SPORT, WE HAVE ACIEVED OUR AIMS.
For now ladies and gents
Monk ( amputee professional golfer ) out
X