Disabled Golf Team - 2011

• By: Ashir Jugathpal
• Short URL: http://www.backabuddy.co.za/apdjhb-golfday-2010

Personal message

The Association for the Physically Disabled - Greater Johannesburg, would like to thank and welcome the Disabled Golf Team who are trying to raise funds for us by participating in our Golf Day on 8 September 2011. Please help them with this effort.  The first of the team, with no particular order of preference, except that she is a lady, is  Vanessa de Beer

How did Vanessa become disabled? I was a sergeant in the SAPS and was on duty one late Friday night, when a drunk driver drove head on into the police vehicle. I was seriously injured and recovery took about a year through continous therapy and treatment. Fortunately, the only lasting effect is the loss of use of my right arm - Brachial Plexus. How does your disability affect your life on a daily basis? I have had to learn to become more left-handed with many functions. Because I hide my disabilty well, the majority of people expect me to perform tasks as per normal. I have had to learn to be patient and to manage my emotions. Contrary to popular belief, I would like to believe that I still portray a positive attitude, and that I try to encourage others. Vanessa does indeed portray a positive attitude and this certainly does encourage others. Her golfing dream is "to compete in a green and gold uniform on the world stage representing my country with pride!" We wish Vanessa all the best in fulfilling her dream!

Phil Coates Palgrave is the next member in the Disabled Golf Team.

How did Phil become disabled? I lost my leg in 1994 when I was 24 as a result of a Hippo attack, which I barely survived and was lucky to only lose my leg! Obviously it has reduced my physical activity dramatically and life is now limited as there is only so much I can do physically.How does your disability affect your life on a daily basis? I obviously work around it and still lead a relatively normal life doing as much as I can, I just can't race my daughter to the gate for example!! How have you overcome your disability and what you are doing today? I am in the I.T. industry working for myself with a small handful of clients who are extremely loyal and keep things ticking over. I have remained a one man show as the income is too small to employ anybody to help and if I did employ it would require expanding the client base and that is too high risk. Phil’s sense of humour and tenacity to run his own business are admirable qualities which obviously help him, not only in life, but on the golf course too.

The third in the Four Ball is Clive Edwards.

How did clive become disabled?  Through no fault of my own, on 6 May 2001 I was involved in a motor cycle accident. My left lower leg was amputated that same evening. I specifically remember my wife asking me the next morning ”so what are you going to do now” and I responded that I was going to get me one of those “funny legs” and get back on the Golf Course. I played my first round six months after the accident and parred the first hole at Plettenberg Bay Golf Course. How does your disability affect your life on a daily basis? I returned to work, on Crutches, three months after the accident. My work entailed flying to other areas in SA. It was difficult at first, but once I received my prosthesis in November 2001, things became a lot easier. I would like to think that, other than obvious restraints on my mobility, that my disability has not affected me at all. I believed that either the trauma of the accident got the better of me, or I got the better of it – I chose the latter and am eternally grateful for that choice. How have you overcome your disability and what you are doing today? I retired just over 5 years ago at the age of 55 and busied myself in doing charity work with the Reach for a Dream Foundation, working mainly with children from Baragwaneth Hospital who had, or who were about to have, amputations because of bone cancer. I did volunteer work at the FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Paulshof and was involved in the running of Disabled Golf Days in Gauteng for the South African Disabled Golf Association for about two years. Clive's philosophy in life is "what happens to you is less important than how you go about handling what has happened. The way that you handle your “misfortune” determines your happiness going forward. I am extremely happy and satisfied with life, but not my Golf Handicap!!" Parring the first hole at Plettenberg Bay Golf Course 6 month after the accident is no mean feat Clive! Well done!

Last, and certainly not least, in the Four-Ball is Carl Schreuder – the “Superman” of the team..

How did Carl become disabled? Lost my leg in a boat accident at the age of 3.How does your disability affect your life on a daily basis? I haven’t let it effect me in anyway, I probably don’t know any better as I was young when I had the accident. How have you overcome your disability and what you are doing today? In swimming I have broken most SA records in S9 category - over 12 in various strokes, most still standing.I've won Midmar 3 times, and came in 3rd twice. I swam 8 Mile Club - A charity swim at Midmar in which you swim every race over the weekend. 8 races/crossings. Won Sun City swim 3x. I broke a world record in 50m Butterfly. I received the Presidential Medal for sport and had dinner with Thabo Mbeki to receive it. I represented SA in Argentina and achieved a bronze medal. I canoe for fun, play Water Polo for fun and water ski for fun. I rowed for SA in 2007 in London. Rowed in the World Cup in Amsterdam in 2007 and have Trident Rowing Colours. Currently I have been selected for the National squad again. The final team will be choosen for the World Champs in New Zealand in July. Good Luck Carl. Our positive thoughts are with you! Golf is a passion and I have been playing since I was 12. Handicap - all over the place, but with practice have got it down to a 11. I’m thinking this might be a goal for 2016 Paralympics - Golf is introduced as demo sport at Rio. I have my own business that is involved in Telecomms - Least Cost Routing - Premicells/VOIP/Neotel. Fax2email, Cellphone Insurance and I am a registered Insurance Broker. This only to keep me out of trouble or off the water.

What can be said or added to these profiles and particularly after Carl has had the final word? Only thank you from the Association for the Physically Disabled for being part of our golf day and for showing us that there is life after a disability and for giving all of us a glimpse of having a winning attitude! .