Teeing off the Murray Course’s 17th, Par 3 on Tuesday last week, with Gary Page in the background, was Dean Reid.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Performances of Yarrawonga golfer Dean Reid are remarkable, which includes recent state and national championships.
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That’s because he has 7% eyesight. He has optic atrophy which is a condition affecting the optic nerve.
“My eyesight at birth was quite good. It’s just deteriorated over the years. I was declared legally blind almost 20 years ago,” the 51-year-old told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“It’s a degenerative disease and I’m expecting to be totally blind in ten to fifteen years.
“From ten per cent down you’re declared legally blind. I’ve always played golf but didn’t start playing properly until about six years ago. Now I’m playing regularly and in weekly competitions.”
At the Liverpool Golf Club in Sydney, Dean finished runner up in the B3 division of the two-day NSW Blind Golf Championships on January 31 and February 1, and runner up overall in the Blind Golf Australian Open on February 3 and February 4 also at Liverpool.
Off a handicap of 19, Dean fired a total nett 171 in the NSW Open and 166 in the Australian Open.
Dean Reid holding his two trophies in Liverpool, Sydney, with caddie Gary Page.
March last year at Rosebud Country Club was Dean’s first state event, the Victorian Blind Golf Open where he won the longest drive and a nearest the pin. In May he played in Adelaide at the SA Blind Golf Open.
Playing partners often in Dean’s weekly competition group at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort include Pro Shop’s Greg Austin and Chris Bell, as well as Gary Page. “They’re all very good, looking out for my balls,” Dean said. “I’m extremely appreciative of them and all other players and could not participate without them.
“A huge plug for Gary. He’s my caddy at the blind events. I’d be lost without Gary. He tells me the distance, lines me up and takes me towards my ball.”
Gary, a multi club champion at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort, met Dean when he put his name down to play in Gary’s group one Thursday morning a little over 12 months ago.
“Dean had been playing with the Nine Holers but really wanted to play 18 so we invited him to join us every Tuesday and Thursday morning,” Gary said.
“When Dean found out about blind golf, he was very excited but needed a support person, so I volunteered. He has been to Rosebud, Adelaide and now Sydney and would love to go overseas if possible.
“I derive enormous satisfaction from watching Dean participate and then socialise with other blind golfers at each competition. The blind golf community are very supportive of one another, and this is great for Dean as his eyesight continues to decline.”
Dean also plays Southern Riverina Veterans golf and appreciates Gary’s brother Neville Page being his caddie at those events.
Andrew Long, at Black Bull Golf Club’s Pro Shop, Silverwoods is Dean’s golf coach. Dean works in a customer service role at Sebel, Silverwoods, including being a porter.
“Andrew (‘Mooney’) is a great coach – I wouldn’t have been able to play competition golf without him. I play socially at Black Bull with my neighbour friends.”
Playing his second shot, Dean Reid has a long putt on the 17th hole, on his way to an overall 30 stableford points.
In his sixth year living in Yarrawonga, Dean and wife Nadja, after a five-year courtship, have been married for 28 years and moved to town from Yarra Valley.
“Nadja’s been my childhood sweetheart. She knew about my eyesight disease from day one – she’s been my absolute rock,” the husband said. “Nadja’s been my biggest support all my life.”
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