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RAF Leuchars Charity Day 2008 order of play downloadable as PDF order of play

RAF Leuchars Golf Club have been extremely fortunate to have secured some superb donations towards their fund raising efforts for the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association.  Golf at venues recognised as some of the finest courses in the UK will be up for auction on the evening of the Charity Golf Day.  Interest in the event itself has been staggering, which is reflected in the high quality of goods and packages that have been generously donated.  Planning for the Charity Day is progressing well and numerous entries have been received.  To secure a place to participate in the Charity Day on Saturday 18 October 2008, please complete and return the entry form contained within the website.  In the event that any queries or questions cannot be answered within the FAQ link, contact the event organiser using the enquiries link.

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St Andrews Links Golf Academy uses innovative, personally tailored  PGA coaching methods to enable pupils to make the most of their potential and to improve their performance. Click here to see the structure to a typical lesson.
Lesson at St Andrews AcademyDelivering a range of coaching styles, from the highly technical to a more traditional approach based on ‘feel’, our team of instructors put the academy at the forefront of golf coaching throughout the world. With three state of the art swing analysis studios and access to the Golf Practice Centre's long and short game facilities the academy provides a comprehensive service, including:

  • Dartfish digital swing analysis system
  • e-coaching technology to allow constant contact and evaluation
  • Trackman radar ball tracking system
  • SAM Putt Lab which provides feedback on 28 parameters of the putting stroke
  • Range of innovative instructional aids

Our instructors will provide a detailed analysis of each pupil’s swing so they can understand how and why their swing works and what improvements may be required. Once the instructor has talked through the changes, we will recommend drills and exercises to help the pupil improve as quickly as possible. Our e-coaching facility allows pupil and instructor to stay in touch to ensure the improvement continues.  For further information please visit the academy website at www.standrewslinksgolfacademy.com or call 01334 466606.

Graeme Baxter...

......... is one of the world's most highly accaimed painters of golfing landscapes.  His paintings hang in famous clubhouses across the globe and are a first choice of some of the world's professional golfers.  Graeme is artist to the Professional Golfers Association, the European Tour, the Presidents Cup (USA v a World International Team excluding Europe) and since 1991 he has been the official artist to the Ryder Cup.  RAF Leuchars Golf Club have a Limited Edition Signed Print for auction featuring the famous 18th hole at St Andrews.  For more information on Graeme Baxter Prints please visit www.baxterprints.com or email sales@baxterprints.com.

Scotland’s Premier Custom Fit Centre at the Home of Golf
Since opening in June 2006, the Custom Fit Centre at St Andrews Links Golf Academy has gained a well deserved reputation as one of the finest facilities of its kind in the UK. Operated by Applied Golf Technology staff, with over 12 years experience of custom fitting, the centre offers a wide range of products and services to cater for golfers of all ages and ability, from absolute beginners to international tour players.

Facilities at the Custom Fit Centre include a modern high tech fitting bay and a well equipped workshop where club adjustments are carried out to the highest professional standards.  At the centre of the fitting process is the Trackman ball flight and club analyser. This uses Doppler radar to track the ball’s total flight from impact to landing with an accuracy of 1-2 yards.  Trackman also monitors the movement of the clubhead through impact allowing the fitter to explain to the player how a particular ball flight was achieved.  Trackman data, together with the skill of the operator has taken custom club fitting to new levels.  Players can either be fitted for new clubs or have their current clubs checked out and adjusted if necessary.

 The Custom Fit Centre at St Andrews Links Golf Academy operates as an authorised Callaway Performance Centre.  Callaway fitting sessions can be booked online at www.mycallaway.eu or by calling 0800 026 4653 (Option 4).

High end premium clubs from Miura, KZG and Nakashima are also custom fitted at the centre.  For those players who have bought clubs off the shelf or are having problems with a particular club, the centre offers a troubleshooting and retro-fitting service. 

Tour Van Gold membership offers advanced players a complete equipment support package including full club customisation and online access to personal equipment and test data.  This service was originally designed for the Scottish international amateur players from the SGU, SLGA and SIS but is now being offered to the country’s category one amateur players and golf pros.  It offers great value for money and is the only service of its kind in the country.

Other unique services include driver optimisation, wedge optimisation and putter fitting.  Driver optimisation involves testing a player’s launch conditions on Trackman.  Then if these are not ideal, the player will test hit various combinations of loft and shaft in order to achieve optimum distance and accuracy.

All players can benefit from improving their short game.  With this in mind the centre offers putter fitting and wedge optimisation.  Putters are fitted for length and lie angle, then optimised for weight using Balance Certified butt weights (www.balance-certified.com).  Wedge optimisation involves fine tuning of loft and lie to achieve ideal incremental yardages and ball dispersion.  Personalised sole grinding is also available for those players who would like their bounce angles customised. 
Gift vouchers for all aspects of custom fitting are available from the centre and make an ideal present for any golfer wanting to take their game to the next level.

For further information or to book an appointment you can visit the academy website at www.standrewslinksgolfacademy.com or call 01334 466728.

Pictured right is retired Royal Air Force Warrant Officer John Mackie who is the Chairman of the Perth and Kinross branch of the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association. 
John Mackie MBE was diagnosed with MND on 6 March 1998 and as a result, he was medically discharged from the RAF as a Warrant Officer in August ’98 after 34 years of service.  John said his diagnosis was a “shock and a relief”. It had taken almost 2 ½ years to diagnose and he was almost 50 years old, ready to celebrate the marriage of his youngest daughter.  John and his wife Jenny decided to wait until after the wedding before telling the family.
John reflects on his physical deterioration and the effect it had on his freedom.   His balance has become worse over time and his ability to speak is severely impaired, and he has partial paralysis.  “During my RAF career I participated in 30 full marathons over ten years, including the London Marathon five times, Washington DC twice as part of the RAF team, Berlin, Frankfurt - and being a Scot my first was Edinburgh.”
John was the first person with MND in Scotland to receive a hip replacement in 1999. It relieved pain at night and helped when transferring to his electric wheelchair.
John first met apprehensively with the local MND community at the MND Christmas Lunch where he was made welcome by the late Dave Chambers, Chairman of the Perth Branch, and Stephen Lang, the donor of the association’s Lang Break Caravan. John said, “Dave amazed me. He had almost no use of muscles from the neck down yet was still in high spirits and his enthusiasm was incredible. He was my mentor. I have never looked back.”
He is chairman of the Perth Branch of the association following in the footsteps of Dave Chambers. The branch consists of a group of volunteers committed to raise awareness and funds locally and offer one another support. John said, “It is a great group and the backbone is the ladies of the Perth shop. We are very well supported by head office. It’s a pleasure to meet others at the AGM to catch up with staff and renew acquaintances with others affected by MND in Scotland.”

 

Warrant Officer John Mackie Scott Hastings

 

John has a positive outlook on what life holds for him, he says, “I hope to carry on raising awareness and lead a busy life. I have met so many fantastic people allowing me to follow the Scottish Rugby Team at Murrayfield, compete in the Great North Run,  go gliding and have days watching golf including the Open Championship."
John believes his diagnosis with MND does not have to inhibit his life, and he knows that people with MND can make new friends while raising awareness.  He wants people with MND to know that they do not have to be imprisoned by the illness.

John was honoured to receive an MBE for services to the Royal Air Force and to charity in 1999.

What is MND?

Motor Neurone Disease is a fatal neurological illness with no known cause or cure. Symptoms can include progressive paralysis, loss of speech, and difficulty eating and drinking. MND affects people in many ways and has emotional and practical implications for families and carers. More than 160 people were diagnosed with the illness this year in Scotland and received the services of the Association.

About the Charity

The Association’s founder John MacLeod had MND. Together with his family and friends he launched the Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association in 1981, organising provision of equipment. The following year the service of the first care specialist was introduced. The Association is now the only charity in Scotland offering care and information for the Scottish MND community and we are also a key source of funding for research to find a cause and cure for the illness.

Sustaining and Evolving Services

The Association reaches out to the MND community and health and social care professionals with well maintained services including our care team, specialist equipment, information, education, counselling and befriending. Fundraisers and donors generosity has helped maintain and develop core services such as information and care and allowed increased spending on research. Campaigning has raised awareness of the Association’s services and the needs of people with MND amongst Scottish Health Boards, government and the general public in Scotland.

A Personal Approach to Care

The Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association funds a care service with 6 care specialists based in hospitals in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen. This year they have provided support for a total of 433 people with MND at home throughout Scotland. Their expert clinical experience proves essential when providing advice and information. They liaise continuously with health and social care professionals to ensure the best possible standards of care are continuously met. This year the Association received part funding for this service from 4 of the 14 Scottish Health Boards, and will continue campaigning to secure 50% funding from all Scottish Health Boards.

Best Quality of Life

The Association has strived to maintain the best quality of life for people with MND since 1981. They continue to invest heavily in the Specialist Equipment Centre with items including electronic communication devices for people with speech difficulties and specialist furniture and mobility equipment. They have delivered 116 pieces of equipment on loan across Scotland to cover gaps existing within health and social service equipment provision. The equipment delivery van has travelled over 10,000 miles this year to homes around Scotland with the help of volunteer drivers. Also, the Small Grants Scheme has also given people with MND almost £8,000 for additional expenses arising as a result their illness.

Addressing Emotional Issues

The counselling service provides specialist training for volunteers to help people with MND, family members, carers and people bereaved by the illness. There are 16 volunteer counsellors who served over 100 clients throughout Scotland during the year. Clients have used the service through self referral or referral by the Care Team and health and social care professionals. A pilot Befriending Service in Fife and Tayside also exists to relieve pressure on carers and improve the independence of people with MND. There are monthly meetings for carers at centres offering complementary therapies and group activities.

Meeting the Needs of Families

Improved knowledge about MND for families and health and social care professionals has been accomplished using an Education Service funded by the Scottish Executive. Family members and carers have expressed a wish to learn more about the illness, ways to access support, and time to share their experiences with others. Family Information Evenings are now regular events.

Funding New MND Researchers

The Association has allocated £600,000 for research via a programme of PhD Studentships over the next 5 years. The programme aims to stimulate high quality research into MND in Scottish institutions. Funding for the first PhD Studentship was granted in 2007 to allow successful completion of the student’s PhD at Edinburgh University over the next three years. The research project will measure the effects of exercise on the rate of degeneration of neuromuscular connections. Studies will also be carried out to ascertain whether exercise improves the ability of relatively healthy motor neurones to compensate as MND progresses.

Continuing Research Commitments
Two projects are ongoing due to £90,000 in funding from the Association. Both are being carried out at the centre for Neuroscientific Research at Edinburgh University led by two respected scientists in their field. The first began in 2005 using fruit fly genetics as a tool for identifying new therapies for MND. The other began in 2006 and is investigating the mechanisms of cell pathology in an inherited form of MND.

SMND