JAPANESE OPEN 2008

Report by Neil Baxter

The competition was held at the Izu Yugashima Golf Club, situated in the foothills of Mount Fuji about 120 miles from Tokyo.

Mid April is the peak of the cherry blossom season in Japan although on this occasion some high winds earlier in the month had done serious damage to the usually lush flowers.

Izu Yugashima is a magnificent golf course and like many courses in Japan has two greens on each hole so that while one is being used the other can be rested and worked on by the green staff.

The practice day proved to be very wet, rather like the weather we had left at home. We were assured that the tournament would be played in warm sunny weather and after a misty start this proved to be correct.

With me in Japan was Simon Cookson who, after an excellent practice round came second to Ally Reid from Scotland in the B3 category.

I had the pleasure of playing with a member of the Japanese Blind Golf Association who I think is probably the best B1 I have ever played with. He played off 34 and came in with level par winning the best B1 and the overall championship. It was a pleasure to see how well he played,

At this point I will draw a veil over the golf, except to say that I usually start the season slowly and this year is no exception.

Finally a word about our hosts who looked after us splendidly and made our stay in Japan very enjoyable.

Horsforth Golf Club Nominate Malcolm Elrick

Malcolm Elrick is to become Horsforth Golf Club's Rabbits Captain for 2009 (Rabbits are all those playing members who have a handicap of 16 and above.)

I feel very proud and honoured to be asked by the past captians and presidents to represent them in 2009. I have Captained England in blind golf in the past and feel that this is on a par to that as I have been asked to take up this position by ordinary members.

I will do my utmost to represent the club and blind golf in my year of office and hope to see as many of you as possible.

DJ Spoony and Geoff Cope Joine EBGA as patrons

" The BBC Radio 1 DJ, 5 Live presenter and now Celebrity Mastermind, SPOONY, has accepted an invitation to become a patron of the English Blind Golf Association.  " I played with some of the members of EBGA for the first time in 2007 and was impressed with their aytitude and commitment to to the game of golf," says Spoony. "it's a privilege to be asked to become a patron and I hope I can help to promote the valuable work of this excellent charity."

Former Yorkshire and England cricketer Geoff Cope has accepted his invitation to become a patron of EBGA.

He Stated "I am deeply honoured with your invitation to become a patron of the association and am delighted to be able to accept."