THE SCOTTISH� BLIND GOLF SOCIETY.
YOUTH LIAISON OFFICER REPORT 1989.
The promotion of golf to visually impaired students, has been received
with enthusiasm at the eleven establishments of Education which I have visited
on three or more occasions throughout the year.
There were a number of teething problems to sort out. Firstly to
accommodate the children from the different year groups into the scheduled golf
lessons.
In the case of Uddingston Grammar,I introduced
golf to all pan- disability groups attending the school, so the demand for golf
tuition was high.
�I arranged two golf classes.� To save too much disruption to classroom
work, one golf lesson was scheduled during the children�s lunch break, plus a
twenty minute time allowance courtesy of the Headmaster.
The other tuition period was scheduled for a PE period
To further promote golf for the visually impaired, sponsored by the Golf
Foundation, I visited the following schools / Colleges over the year, Ashcraig school,
St Vincents, Knowltop Primary, �Kelvin Primary,Castlehill
Primary, Kaimes Primary, Moray House, The Royal Blind
School Edinburgh, Craigsbarns Primary �and Secomdary
schools Dundee.� I am scheduled to meet
students at Motherwell College later this month. I have liaised with Mrs Mary
Lorrie, the Superintendent of Allwyn House, Ceres,
however neither this establishment or the Forfar Guide Dog Centre met the
criteria for sponsored coaching as laid down by the Golf Foundation.
�I also spoke at length to the
Chief Mobility Officer, Mr Wells, at the National Blind School / College
Hereford. I have been assured he is willing to operate the Golf Foundation
Classes for his pupils.
In the Glasgow area there are 33 students receiving golf coaching, six
of whom are aged sixteen or over while the remainder range from 11 to 15.� Twenty four of the children from Uddingstone, St Vincent�s and Ash Craig are coached by Gary
Mitchell at the Clyde way Driving Range. The remainder nine who attend Kelvin
Primary are tutored by David Scott.
There are nine children interested in the coaching scheme, at Castle
hill Primary School in Bearsden which is based at the Resource Administration
unit for visually impaired in Dunbartonshire, so far no satisfactory
arrangement can be made to schedule the coaching due to the distance of
transport which involves five different journeys of between 15 and 25 miles.
There are 10 students currently interested in golf at the Royal Blind
School Edinburgh and are being coached by the PGA Professional John
Henderson.� Two School leavers from RBS
have carried on with their coaching, Gordon White has spoken to Harry Lyddall with a view to joining the East of Scotland
District, Jim McCrosson has started Motherwell College and will have the
opportunity to continue his coaching through that establishment.
I am also pleased to report on the interest and enthusiasm of the
students at Craigbarns Primary and Secondary Schools in
This particular Golf Foundation Scheme is designed to help visually
impaired people who are in full time education, to play golf. There are two
distinct parts to the scheme. 1- Learning the technique of playing golf. 2 �
Learning the Rules and Etiquette of the game.�
Prior to starting the GF Scheme at the various schools, I visited a
number of Golf Professionals who were enthusiastic and looked forward to the
new challenge of teaching golf to the visually impaired.
The two stages of the scheme as outlined, open the door to the Merit
Award Scheme which is an incentive for the pupils to improve their technique
and to make them more knowledgeable on the rules and etiquette of golf.
The merit award is broken into four stages, Green, Bronze, Silver and
gold. On passing each stage the student will qualify for a certificate, a badge
and a personal identify card in the appropriate colour.�
The Golf Foundation recommends that Golf clubs allow Golf Foundation
Identity card holders to play golf for a nominal green fee at off peak times.
I am now pleased to report that on the recommendation of the Golf
Professional coaching the students, all of those in the 16 plus age category
will be completing the Green Badge Award during the 1990 summer Term.� The standard needed to be successful in the
Green Award is;
�
1. Must have received eight hours tuition, in Golf Foundation classes.
2.�
Obtain at least 50% mark in six written questions in the rules of golf.
3. Obtain at least 50% mark in the
written question on the etiquette of Golf.
4.Display an understanding of the clubs
and their uses and where possible have played some golf with the supervision of
a Golf Professional.
5.Produce one countersigned card of at
least nine holes played, 18 holes are preferred, showing at least one hole in
three over par or better.
It is now recommended that students
successful in the Green Award should be considered for District membership of
the SBGS, to enable the realisation of this Programme to be established.
G T Kelly.� Youth Liaison Officer to SBGS
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