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7th April 2010 – for immediate release
Ryder Cup Legend Returns to The Belfry to Hold a Special golf clinic
The National Golf Club Challenge Team, Together with Challenge Patron Sam Torrance Host a Battle Back Golf Clinic at The Belfry
Sam Torrance recently attended a special golf clinic for wounded members of the British Armed Forces. The clinic event, held in association with the Battle Back scheme was hosted by the National Golf Club Challenge team and The Belfry.
Sam, Ryder Cup winner as a player and captain was joined by Match of The Day pundit Alan Hansen, top golf coach and Sky TV commentator Tim Barter and European Tour players Richard Finch and Oliver Fisher. As well as receiving expert hints and tips to improve their golf, the wounded Servicemen participating in the Battle Back scheme also enjoyed Dave Edwards' amazing trick shot show.
The Battle Back scheme – partly funded by Help for Heroes – is run by the British Armed Forces and encourages wounded Servicemen and women to participate in adaptive adventure training and sports, including golf, as part of their rehabilitation.
Mne Aaron Moon, a member of the Battle Back scheme from Bolton in Lancashire commented, "It's been an amazing day, it's an honour to come to The Belfry with the likes of Same Torrance, Richard Finch and Oliver Fisher."
As well as give an insight into how sport plays a significant part in the rehabilitation of injured service personnel, the purpose of the Battle Back Clinic event was to help raise the profile of the National Golf Club Challenge, which will take place on the 24th and 25th of July this year, and aims to raise £1 million for the Help for Heroes charity.
Commenting on his role as a National Golf Club Challenge patron, Sam Torrance said "Joining these brave soldiers for a golf clinic has been a moving and rewarding experience." Sam went on to say, "We may not be able to stop our service personnel from getting injured, but we can try to make sure they receive all they need when they arrive back from active duty. Our passion for golf can make a massive difference to the lives of our injured heroes."
The National Golf Club Challenge is a nationwide charity golf event on a scale never seen before, in aid of the Help for Heroes charity. On 24th and 25th July, golfers throughout the UK will be play against each other for some fantastic prizes, including playing the Challenge Final at The Belfry and a chance to win an all expenses paid golfing holiday to Egypt.
The Challenge is an opportunity for Britain's golfing community to come together on the same weekend to compete, have fun and demonstrate their support and generosity to the wounded Servicemen and women of the British Armed Forces.
For more information on the National Golf Club Challenge, go to www.nationalgolfclubchallenge.org.uk or www.ngcc2010.com.
For more information on the Help for Heroes charity and the work they do please visit their website: www.helpforheroes.org.uk.
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Story Images
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Sam warming up 1500 x 1000 (249KB) |
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Sam's master class 1500 x 1500 (198KB) |
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Group photo 1500 x 1000 (290KB) |
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Alan Hansen 1500 x 1500 (220KB) |
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Tim Barter & Oli Fisher 1500 x 1500 (230KB) |
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Dave Edwards 1500 x 1000 (290KB) |
Challenge Contacts
Stacey Jeffries, Event Director
Tel: +44 (0)1565 818107
Email: stacey@nationalgolfclubchallenge.org.uk
Matt Leighton, Marketing Director
Tel: +44 (0)1565 818106
Email: matthew@nationalgolfclubchallenge.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
ABOUT THE NATIONAL GOLF CLUB CHALLENGE
www.nationalgolfclubchallenge.org.uk
Every golf club in the United Kingdom and Ireland is invited to enter their club in to The National Golf Club Challenge (to be held on the 24th or 25th July 2010). The aim of the challenge is to find The Help for Heroes National Golf Club Champions 2010. At the same time raising much needed funds and awareness for the excellent Help for Heroes charity as the UK golfing community come together for one day in their support for our injured forces.
ABOUT BATTLE BACK
Battle Back is not a charity; it is a department based at Headley Court which encourages wounded Servicemen and women to participate in adaptive adventure training and sports including golf. All seriously injured Servicemen and women are eligible to participate in the adventure training and sporting opportunities, including overseas expeditions.
The Battle Back staff, in conjunction with DMRC Headley Court, Headquarters Adventurous Training Group (Army), or the Combined Services Adaptive Sports Association, is the authorising authorities for all adaptive adventure training and sport.
Battle Back provides a varied programme of events which include:
- Golf
- Water Skiing
- Paragliding
- Sub-aqua diving
- Sailing
- Ski Training
- Athletics
- Kayaking
- Diving
- Training with the Para-Olympic teams of the world!
Following the success of the first adaptive skiing expedition, a group of individuals within the military began to work on a programme of sports that could be adapted to aid in the rehabilitation of wounded service personnel. The team established a series of sports and challenging activities that would expose patients at Headley Court to a degree of controlled risk and encourage courage, confidence, leadership, fitness and team spirit.
The Battle Back scheme was formally launched on 28th July 2008, exactly 60 years after Sir Ludwig Guttmann created the first Stoke Mandeville Disabled Games, set up for injured World War 2 veterans. These games led to the creation of the modern Paralympic Games and the scheme has strong links with the British Paralympic team.
ABOUT SAM TORRANCE
While Sam's success as a professional golfer speaks for itself – 44 career wins and a record of over 700 appearances on the European Tour – he might be remembered best for his momentous putt on the 18th green at The Belfry, which delivered victory to the 1985 European Ryder Cup Team over America for the first time in twenty eight years. Sam went on to have further Ryder Cup success when he captained the 2002 European Team to victory. He was awarded an MBE in 1996 and then an OBE in 2003 for services to golf. Still as competitive as ever, Sam has won the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit three times in the past four years. Alongside this, golf fans around the globe can now enjoy his humour and expert punditry as part of the BBC golf broadcasting team.
ABOUT ALAN HANSEN
Alan Hansen played 621 for Liverpool Football Club from 1977 to 1991. During which he won 8 league championships, 3 European Cups, 4 league cups and 2 FA cups. He has been on BBC Match of The Day for the last 18 years and writes a column in Telegraph. Alan is married with two children and still lives in Liverpool area. He's an avid golfer with a handicap of 3; his home golf club is Hillside.
ABOUT TIM BARTER
Tim Barter is best known for his work with Sky Sports Golf, currently in his 18th season as an OnCourse commentator & Reporter, Tim is ever present at golf's Marque Events, Major Championships and Ryder Cups both in Europe & America.
A professional for 34 years, Tim loves coaching players of all standards & has seen his pupils win on the European Tour and represent Europe in the Ryder Cup.
ABOUT RICHARD FINCH
Hull's Richard Finch started playing at his local municipal course, Springhead Park, at the age of ten after an uncle lent him some cut down clubs. Finch was inspired to take up the game seriously by the epic Masters victories of Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and, in particular, Sandy Lyle's 1988 success at Augusta National. He represented England at amateur level for five years from 1999, winning the Spanish Amateur Open Championship in 2000 and becoming English Amateur Champion in 2002, before turning professional in 2003. He earned his card through the Qualifying School in 2004. Finch left it until virtually the last putt of the 2007 season to retain his playing privileges for 2008 with a seventh-place finish at the Mallorca Classic, but drew massive confidence from the experience and went on to claim his first European Tour title in New Zealand in December. Finch produced his own splash headlines and one of the year's most memorable golfing moments during the Irish Open's last round at Adare Manor. He accidentally plunged down a steep bank into the River Maigue after playing his third shot to the par five just minutes before lifting the trophy. Finch enjoyed his best season to date in 2008 finishing in 20th position in the European Tour Order of Merit guaranteeing him a spot in the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry.
ABOUT OLIVER FISHER
Oliver James Fisher (born 13 September 1988) is an English professional golfer. Fisher was born in Chingford, London. He was a winner of the Faldo Series, Nick Faldo's development programme for young golfers, in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and as such was regarded as one of the best prospects of his generation. In 2005 he became the youngest player to take part in the Walker Cup .In late 2006, while still an amateur, Fisher entered the European Tour's qualifying school. He finished fifth to become the youngest Briton to win a tour card and immediately turned professional. He made the cut at his first five European Tour events and ended the season just outside the top 100 on the 2007 Order of Merit to retain his card for 2008. A solid 2008 season which included a runner-up finish at the MAPFRE Open de Andalucía by Valle Romano, where he lost out in a playoff with Thomas Levet, saw him finish in 51st place on the Order of Merit. 2009 proved a struggle for Oliver as he finished 125 on the Race To Dubai standings and lost his European Tour Card. However Oli has started 2010 as he means to go on and most recently finished 8th in the Avantha Indian Masters.
ABOUT THE BELFRY
www.thebelfry.co.uk
As one of the world's leading and instantly recognisable golf resorts for players of all levels, The Belfry presents an unrivalled golfing venue for both professional and amateur players. Undeniably the spiritual home of the Ryder Cup and hosting the Quinn Insurance British Masters, The Belfry has vast experience in delivering first class golf packages on each of our three courses.
ABOUT HELP FOR HEROES
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
Help for Heroes was the idea of appeal chairman Bryn Parry and a group of friends and relations. They wanted to help wounded soldiers returning home from combat and came up with several fundraising ideas which led to Help for Heroes being born. The Charity are completely non political and accept wars happen under any government, all they want to do with the help of the British public, is to assist our wounded heroes.