Disabled golfers and MSP's with direct sponsorship from Edinburgh Leisure have just completed a match held at Craigentinnys Lochend Golf Club.

The match, a mixed Stableford game with disabled golfers, their coaches, MSP's and Lochend golf club members, was re-instated after a gap of some sixteen years.

Jim Gales, the Chairman of the SDGP said, "Originally this match was played with Council members and some small groups of disabled golfers in the mid-90s, but due to financial constraints and a drop in membership, the event had to be cancelled.  However with Edinburgh Leisure's enthusiasm and the SDGP's growing membership, we are already looking forward to next year's event".

The golf event prizes were sponsored by Edinburgh Leisure and the Vision Impaired Scottish Golf Alliance.

Neil Findlay MSP and Siobhan McMahon MSP attended the event and along with some twenty five SDGP members Coaches and Lochend members the results were as follows:

Winning golf putters were 1st SDGP members with 40 points, Willie McEwan of Fife.  2nd with 39 points was Garry McNulty of Glasgow.  1st Lochend player with 42 points was Chris Houston .  2nd Lochend member with 41 points was  Alex Fenwick.

Winning Golf Vouchers and Leisure Passes from Edinburgh Leisure were :

1st - Team 1 - 118 points were Willie McEwan, Stevie Cunningham and Alex Fenwick

2nd - Team 5 - 116 points were Garry McNulty, Stewart McCallum and chris Hewson

3rd- Team 2 - 113 points were Jim Gales, Paul Shepherd and Neil Findlay MSP

4th - Team 7 - 100 points were Gary Gardner, Andy McArthur and Graham Glendinning

Ian Grimwade, Head of Sales and Business Opportunities from Edinburgh Leisure said "What a great day we had at Craigentinny Golf Course and with the members of Lochend Golf Club. The standard of golf was very high as reflected in the returned scores, we all had to be on our best game to stay in contention and there was lots of banter and camaraderie amongst the players.  We certainly look forward to welcoming back the SDGP to Edinburgh in 2012".

The organising team would like to thank everyone at the Lochend Golf Club for their generosity and support, without which such an event would not be possible or such a success.

The SDGP now moves on to two more events in September at Carluke near Glasgow and Elmwood in fife, just before the inaugural 3-day, Scotland v England, and Auld Enemies Cup match in Northumberland.

Full details on all the SDGP fixtures, can be found at www.sdgp.co.uk.or by email at info@sdgp.co.uk.

The Scottish Disability Golf Partnership is governed and operated by disabled people and is the only group in Scotland which actively encourages and involves anyone of any age, with a disability,

serious health problem or mobility issue and their coaches, who wish to play golf and includes amputees, the blind, deaf, those with learning difficulties, downs syndrome, stroke and heart attack victims, wheelchair users and anyone with other similar issues, who wish to learn or play the sport.

+SDGP Media Release