One second in time can change the rest of your life, and a single moment of severe injury or life-threatening diagnosis can change the life and career of a Service person forever.

When this happens in the military, the recovery process begins immediately. Highly specialist centres like the Royal College of Defence Medicine and the Headley Court Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre focus on both mental and physical rehabilitation.

Complementing  the medical rehabilitation, the MOD’s “Battle Back” initiative allows members from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force to rehabilitate using sport and adventurous training. This gives injured service personnel the chance to undertake and overcome challenges which build self esteem and confidence whilst at the same time enhancing their physical recovery.

Battle Back events are mostly attended by war casualties, but the programme is not exclusive just to them. Service personnel that have a serious illness or disability that will take a lifetime of adjustment also have access to the programme.

Golf is Battle Back’s most rapidly expanding sport, serving over 100 golfers at present. The success of the golf programme is attributable to three main things:

1.            Golf is ideally suited to those who are ill or injured, as it helps to improve balance, flexibility, co-ordination, endurance, self-esteem, confidence and perception.

2.            The unique handicap system allows golfers to be competitive at all levels, something which is often difficult to replicate after injury or illness. The handicap system also allows individuals to gauge objective improvement which further helps them develop their self-confidence through personal achievement.

3.            The support of the golf industry.

The Battle Back golfing calendar focusses on competition, with many matches against societies and golf clubs.  In preparation for matches the programme also offers coaching through specific courses and locally for the individuals through the charitable support of over 70 PGA professionals nationwide. Through the Golf4heroes.com campaign Battle Back golfers are also able to access over 230 great golf courses throughout the UK, free of charge.

The calendar culminates in an annual fixture where 10 golfers participate in a “Ryder Cup style” tournament against members of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), the US Military wounded.  The teams compete for the Captain Pietsch Trophy (Courage Cup) on an annual basis, played on alternate sides of the Atlantic. Participation in the event over the last two years has seen the spoils shared with the Trophy won by the home nation on both occasions. The highly competitive yet friendly spirit, evident in the competitors, epitomises all that Battle Back stands for.

‘As a member of Battle Back for the past two years I have benefited significantly from the great support offered by the golfing industry. I am extremely grateful to have a regional PGA mentor who has volunteered his services offering me first class coaching and ensuring that I stay on track during the periods of the year I am away from the Battle Back programme. One major factor which goes mostly unnoticed is the benefit of getting together with other Battle Back golfers. The ability to share experiences and spend time with Servicemen faced with similar challenges is invaluable.’

RAF Chief Technician Keith Davies

http://www.golf4heroes.com/

Can YOU help the Battle Back Initiative? Are you a PGA Pro who can offer injured servicemen and women coaching specific to their disabilities and needs? Can you offer free golf access through your club?

If you can, please get in touch. YOUR HELP CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

Jubilant scenes at Burhill Golf Club in Sept 2012, where the BattleBack Team were victorious 12.5 v 7.5 against the WWP Team in the Captain Pietsch Trophy.

Crystal Palace FC recently hosted their annual Golf day in aid of CPFC Youth Academy.

The management team, players past & present, as well as club sponsors and corporate clients all joined in for a superb day of golf competitions;  the prize table was sponsored by Lynx. It was a sizzling hot day, hopefully the prelude to a wonderful Summer!

For more information on the day, click on the link to Crystal Palace FC’s web page.

http://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/article/palace-legends-at-charity-golf-day-804925.aspx

Since the Masters at Augusta, I have been on the golf course rather a lot trying to emulate what I witnessed in Georgia.  There have been moments of joy when everything with my swing felt fantastic, the ball did what I wanted and the follow through flowed far more easily.  Those moments have also been interspersed with anxiety, confusion and frustration at the lack of ‘repeat’ and consistency.  We all continue nevertheless for those moments of golfing bliss when it all feels so easy!  If only it was…

I have played in a few comps of late and most recently in a wonderful charity day at Stoke Park in aid of Help for Heroes.  I met some incredibly inspiring people and came away from the day lifted and energised.  The day was to raise money for Battleback Golf.  The Battle Back programme is a military initiative designed to introduce injured service personnel to sports aiding them in their physical and psychological rehabilitation.  Through sport confidence and independence grows and golf has allowed many of the guys I met to discuss problems with other servicemen with similar issues, build self-esteem and have a laugh.

Celina Hinchcliffe from Sky News spoke to the Battlebackers indoors about their stories and what golf has done for them.  That was followed by a range session I hosted to see the guys all hit a few balls and discuss SNAG, which has helped many of them. SNAG stands for Starting New At Golf and is an incredible learning system to teach golf fundamentals and speed up coordination.  We had a giggle before heading out for 18 holes.  My team were simply hilarious. Thank you Andrew, Josh and Steve for making me laugh constantly.  I did make my team chuckle on the third… The par three where we had the chance to ‘beat the pro’ who was the lovely Rachel Drummond. I admitted that when I was a lot younger I thought the scenario was ‘Meet the pro’… Don’t ask!… Yes certainly a blonde moment… Good luck to all the Battlebackers and please support by visiting:

www.golf4heroes.com/battleback

I have played at Stoke Park a few times but never bore of walking up the fourteenth hole and seeing the incredible clubhouse in front of me; such a fantastic building.  I look forward to being invited back!

Before I sign off, I have spent the last couple of weeks listening to my husband constantly talk about Manchester United.  He has already purchased every possible item of clothing from the club shop for our son Max, even dummies and the song ‘Oh Robin Van Persie’ is sung continually to Max. I do have to smile though as this is the one song my little boy seems to want to dance to.  I have no doubt there will be no let up until the start of next season or even next year…!

Speak soon.

Di x

Do you have a pet?

I have a dog his name is Archie, he is so handsome, like a little teddy bear.

What is your Guilty Pleasure? 

My guilty pleasure would have to be chocolate, and specifically Galaxy.

Are you a Dance floor diva or wall-hugger?

 I’m definitely a Dance Floor Diva.

Do you have any brothers or sisters? 

I have on older brother. Doesn’t play golf but he would try to say I learnt everything I know from him!! Terrible golfer, cack handed!!

What has been your most embarrassing moment on tour, so far?

 My most embarrassing moment on Tour would have to be in 2010 Dubai Ladies Masters where I picked my ball up without marking it on the green. At that stage I was only a couple of shots behind the leader. I then incurred a 2 shot penalty and finished 12th. I saw red mist as you can imagine!

What is your favourite pastime or hobby?

I have many things I love doing outside golf, one is playing football. From 2010 to Summer 2012 I played for Bridgend Ladies football team in a Women’s league, had great fun and it was great exercise outside of golf. I made decision to stop playing too as I was worried of getting seriously injured.

Are you Ticklish? 

Sometimes I can be ticklish but not that often; I’m not the type of person where I’m ticklish under my arms or feet and you can’t touch them at all.  

What gets your goat the most? 

Mess and untidiness gets me wound up the most! I can’t deal with it… I never understand how people can function with mess around. I can’t believe I’m about to tell you this but sometimes when going to practice I have to tidy up a little before I can hit balls, I can’t deal with range baskets everywhere and snapped tees all over the place. It makes me happy to tidy a few things up and then I can get on with my session!! WEIRD, I know….

Marmite, Vegemite or Bovril? 

I haven’t tried any of them, but none of them appeal to be honest! I like peanut butter though if that helps?

What secret talent or party trick do you have up your sleeve? 

One thing that I can do which freaks people out is that I can push my shoulder blade out so its sticking out from my body.

What would be your ideal holiday – activity (or not!) and place? 

My Ideal holiday would be in the Maldives, staying in a water villa with beautiful sunshine and about 30 degrees Celsius. I can’t sit still for too long, so I’d do some sunbathing, use the gym every day, have massages in the spa and also do some scuba diving and snorkeling.

Come join the fun at Wormsley 3rd-4th

Follow the link to get more information on an amazing weekend of sport.

http://sport-fest.co.uk/index.html

Alternatively just book your places early to avoid disappointment at  https://sportfest.seatlive.com/Online/seatSelect.asp?BOset::WSmap::seatmap::performance_ids=D387E438-BB48-405F-BC8E-B49F2166D3EB

See you at Wormsley in August!

http://lydiahallgolf.com/calendar/

We don’t often see that side to him and to witness his sheer joy and overwhelming delight at holing the putt to win was incredible.  His energy came right through the TV screen, along with the passion and excitement of the crowd.  It was compelling viewing. Adam made history on Sunday and he summed it up beautifully.

‘It is amazing that it is my destiny to be the first Aussie to win the Masters.’

I love that word destiny.  I believe Adam had a huge hand to play in his own destiny and how well he played it.  The tweets and messages of congratulations sent really reflect what kind of person he is.  Everyone has said incredible things about this down to earth guy.

One moment I will always remember is the embrace from Angel Cabrera when the putt went in for Adam.  There was no hesitation from Angel who simply opened his arms up lovingly as if Scott were his own son - a man with a big heart who enhances the game with his presence.  I think we could all do with a Cabrera hug every now and then!  On that note, I think those who don’t already play golf will be encouraged to take up the game!  I have just entered myself for a 36 hole competition next week off the back of the weekend’s drama!

Have a great week.

Di x

http://www.golfbusinessnews.com/news/sponsorship/cat-gets-the-cream-as-lynx-golf-signs-its-first-tour-pro/

Golf… I have watched a lot of golf over the weekend. Some from Morocco but mainly from the Shell Houston Open. It’s such an exciting time ahead of the Masters and I can’t get enough of stats, predictions and nuggets of info. D.A Points, as I’m sure you’re aware, won the Shell Houston Open using a putter his ‘mom’ gave him 10 years ago. Darren Andrew picked up his second PGA Tour title after finishing at 16 under, one clear of the field. His first win was with Bill Murray at the AT and T Pebble Beach Pro Am. Bill kept him loose and calm that week. At the weekend he stayed calm by pulling cheesy grins at his caddy when he wasn’t looking. That made his caddy laugh, then him laugh, cue relaxed demeanour… I digress…

Great victory for D A Points but the one player I really enjoyed seeing finish tied second was Henrik Stenson. The result took him up to 42nd in the world rankings, Augusta- he’s on his way! Since 2009 Stenson has slowly but surely made his way back on to the golfing world stage. He has had a couple of decent results over the last few weeks (tied 8th at Bay Hill and tied second at Houston), I have a sneaky suspicion he could be a strong contender for a top five finish at the Masters. I am sure he has put that final round of 81 last year behind him and goes there with the cool demeanour he always has. Stenson is a good guy. He’s a ‘good egg’ as my northern friends would say! (Nothing to do with chocolate and Easter there…) Good Luck Henrik.

I find it difficult to not think about Tiger Woods when people ask me who I think will win. Tiger loves winning Majors. Surely his 15th Major will mean so much to him after the events of the last few years. He’s won three PGA Tour events this year and plays off the back of that recent win at Bay Hill. I would have to put a flutter on Tiger if I was a betting girl…

I still get goose bumps thinking about Bubba Watson’s second shot in to ten during the play off last year. What spin, what a shot, what a win, what emotions… A shot that will go down in history and I have no doubt Bubba will take the feel good factor down Magnolia Lane and produce four decent rounds to put him in contention. I will speak to you soon but for now I have some more chocolate to contend with…

Di x

I bumped in to Thomas Aiken and his wife Kate at the DImension Data event in George. Kate is simply awesome and she wrote down all the great places to visit while we were there. Thomas was very cheery and spoke optimistically about his golf and what he hoped for the season. Only last week he won the Avantha Masters, his second European Tour event. Congrats Thomas.  He’s a really good guy who my husband knows well as they used to play a lot of amateur golf together. Thomas always has a smile on his face and sees the lighter side of life. A fun person to be around.

We said goodbye to the sun and hello to the cold when we got back to London! How cold?! I played golf last week at my local club and we only managed 9 holes as the temperature was -3.  I tweeted about this and everyone thought I was 3 under through 9 holes! That did make me chuckle. I played some decent golf with my Lynx clubs and again I am not just saying this but everyone commented on my ‘Elegance’ driver.  I promise you this club is awesome to hit.

Straight after golf last week I dashed in to London to host an event for.. gulp… Goldie Hawn.  it was a privilege and so much fun.  She has a charity called the Hawn Foundation, which has basically developed an educational progamme called ‘MindUP’.  It teaches children about the brain, how the brain works and operates and why children get stressed, anxious ,sad, irritable etc and teaches them coping mechanisms to deal with all these emotions.  I found it so informative as I think most adults don’t understand how their brain works!  The Foundation seeks to help transform children’s lives.  In the industrialised world children in the UK and USA are at the bottom of the list in terms of well-being (Unicef research 2007).

Goldie was a dream and Kurt Russell, her partner, flew in for the evening to support.  I was sat with my husband, two lovely Irish friends and Vernon Kay and Tess Daly.  Both were on great form and we chatted sport most of the night.  Vernon is a huge NFL fan, so I now know what’s happening in the NFL world!  It was a whirlwind evening and a great amount of money was raised for the charity.  Awesome night all in all.  I managed to get a couple of pics of Goldie and Kurt – see below!  Genuinely great people.

Please check out:

www.hawnfoundation.co.uk

So the Masters is coming up – I will be doing various bits of work during the first Major of the year – I will write more before it starts!

Di x