GOLD Coasters Neil Herdegen and Todd Sleep PGA from TS Golf Academy teamed up to win their third successive blind golf tournament at Kooralbyn Valley Golf Resort.
The pair edged out more than a dozen players and their caddies over two days to claim the inaugural Kooralbyn Pineapple.
Jamie Hain and Big Mark Tooks finished a single point back.
Neil began taking golf lessons in 2019 and the pair play golf regularly at their home course, The Glades.
From all reports, all groups had memorable fun and enjoyable rounds.
Scores were close with more than four groups scoring in excess of 40 points – demonstrating the rising standard of competition blind golf plays in Queensland.
The fun side of the game was certainly not sacrificed in the name of competition as all groups shared plenty of laughs and “wet” balls.
The first day’s play was a 2-person Ambrose stroke event and the second day was 4-ball best-ball stableford event – another first for Queensland Blind Golf.
The skills clinic was another first for TS Golf, World Blind Golf (blind.golf) and Blind Golf Queensland (BGQ) who joined forces to deliver the session which was another first-of-its-kind for Blind Golf in Australia.
The Gold Coast’s Justin Fudge was also there to help Todd Sleep PGA showcase a number of activities from the upcoming World Blind Golf training curriculum that they are currently developing in association with Neil Herdegen and Frankie Althen.
“Things are really starting to take shape for Blind Golf in Queensland and it’s great to see so many of our blind golfers accept the opportunity to spend a few days together enjoying golf at one of Australia’s best golf resorts,” said Blind Golf Qld president Dr Brad Carver.
“We had great feedback from everyone about every activity we organised. We’re taking those compliments as a sign that we’re doing things right in the Sunshine State.”
Herdegen said the skills clinic would be an important part of all organised events moving forward.
“It gives players and their caddies opportunities to participate in a range of activities that have all been based on best-practice golf coaching techniques and dovetails very nicely with the excellent series of development programs deployed Australia wide by Golf Australia, including the excellent Get into Golf Programs and the Community and All-Abilities Coaching courses,” he said.
Players also had opportunities to enjoy Kooralbyn’s excellent facilities, including a social dinner at the resort.
“We place a high degree of importance on the social aspects of our events, and the combined dinner is something that we all can look forward to.”
Dr Carver said the entire Blind Golf community in Queensland was very close and enjoyed each other’s company and social activities.
“We really owe a debt of gratitude to Todd Sleep PGA from TS Golf at Robina for his commitment to improving the lives of our players through Blind Golf,” he said.
For more information on how you can get involved in Blind Golf, contact World Blind Golf by email at admin@blind.golf
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