Marvellous double for blind champ (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Marvellous double for blind champ

10:51pm Wednesday 13th August 2008

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Winning the English Blind Golf Order of Merit for the second time in four years is not the only reason for Malcolm Elrick’s delight.

The 54-year-old clinched the 2008 title after finishing runner-up in the four-day Lawrence Levy Blind Masters at Patsull Park in Staffordshire.

But he is even more pleased to be next year’s rabbits captain at his club Horsforth.

“That to me means more than anything,” he said. “Doing well in blind golf means a lot to me but being nominated by members at my club makes me so pleased and proud.

“I have captained England and been players’ player of the year (in blind golf) but to be rabbits captain of a golf club will be very special.”

For now though, Elrick is enjoying his second national merit crown which he had to work much harder for than his first success in 2005.

The Bingley-based player, who only has two per cent of his vision left, said: “I am pleased because I thought the first time I won it, it might have been a bit of a fluke even though I won by a huge margin.”

Elrick went into the final event of six in second place on the list and his task was made even harder after a “lousy” first round which left him needing to claw back more than ten shots.

But he bounced back in style with net rounds of 67, 72 and 70 to finish second which proved to be enough for the main title.

“It would have been nice to have won the Masters but the Order of Merit is the one everybody’s playing for,” added Elrick, who also won the Northern Cup at Mid Yorkshire in June.

He has never been out of the top ten in the last nine years and is now looking forward to playing for England against Scotland in the Auld Enemies Cup at China Sweet GC in Cornwall from September 1-4.

Blind golf is played under the same rules governed by the R&A with the exception that players are allowed to ground their club in a hazard.

Elrick, who plays off 21 handicap, said: “Ninety percent of it is about being confident in what you are doing and trusting your swing.”

Players use a guide who plays a vital role by giving as much information as required – describing the terrain, giving the direction and distance as accurately as possible and then lining up the player for the desired shot.

On the green, the guide and player also work closely together in assessing the distance and borrow from the ball to the pin, which involves pacing out the length of the putt.

Elrick said: “Blind golf is like a team event – you can’t do it without your guide.”

He thanked the members at Horsforth who have acted as guides – including Leeds United legend Norman Hunter and former Leeds rugby league player Lewis Jones – to enable him to participate in regular club competitions.

“They’ve really helped and I’ve learned lots of little skills from them,” added Elrick, whose wife Lesley – secretary at Horsforth – has also guided him.

Elrick was introduced to the game at a guide dog show about ten years ago. On his disability, he added: “You’ve just got to get on with life otherwise you sit around and vegetate.”

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