Golf SA’s Christian Puccini with Soldier On’s – Nick O’Brien (Member), Bronson Horan (Ambassador), Justin Brown (Manager).
27-year-old, Nick O’Brien, has embarked on the adventure of a lifetime, after being given the chance to represent Soldier On, in Scotland, at St Andrew’s, through the St Andrew’s Legacy.
Soldier On are establishing community golfing relationships around Australia providing opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration for veterans and are using St Andrews Legacy as their high profile event.
Soldier On, supports Australian service men and women who have been wounded physically or psychologically, in contemporary conflicts after 1990. It also supports serving members who were injured in training or other exercises and individuals working for other Government agencies (DFAT, AFP, Customs).
Soldier On does this in several different ways, in an effort to make a financial, physical and emotional link with those who have been wounded.
The four areas they work to help in include: Rehabilitation, Adventurous Events, Community Events, and Education, Employment and Empowerment.
O’Brien departed on Sunday 13 July for the UK, with three other golfers and a chaperone, to play five rounds of golf including The Old Course and to attend the final two rounds of The Open Championship, before visiting the Imperial War Museum in Manchester.
The group is also scheduled to meet with Sandy Dawson, The Australian Captain of the R&A on the Sunday afternoon of The Open, in the Trophy Room at Royal Liverpool.
Due to the nature of the event and the unique opportunities that it brings for the players and Soldier On, the four participants were selected for the trip, with the following considerations in mind:
- Golf Handicap of less than 24 (St Andrews requires all players to have a Handicap to play the Old Course).
- The ability and willingness to become a Soldier On Wounded Ambassador for the duration of the programme, as they will be engaging with Golf Professionals and St Andrews members and fellow players from the UK, USA and Canada.
O’Brien has been a member of Soldier On since March 2014, after being discharged from the Army in 2013.
Originally from Gerogery, near Albury/Wodonga, NSW, O’Brien left home at the age of 18 and joined the Army in 2005 as an Infantry Soldier. He was posted to a range of locations, including Wagga Wagga, Townsville, Albury and Adelaide. Then in 2007 he was deployed to East Timor and then to Afghanistan.
CEO of Golf SA, Chris Luz-Raymond, was recently introduced to Nick through a mutual contact and happily arranged some lessons for him ‘to tune up his game’ in the lead up to his journey. Golf SA also provided Nick with some golf & travel equipment.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chris and Golf SA for all the kindness and support shown and given to me. Without their input I don’t think I would be going to Scotland to represent Soldier On.” O’Brien said prior to his departure.
“My confidence and self-esteem have gradually grown as my golf has improved.”
“I am extremely looking forward to the trip and being in Scotland, the ‘home of golf’. The Old Course is full of so much history and so many famous and important people would have played it.” O’Brien added.
O’Brien’s itinerary in the UK includes rounds at:
- Monday 14th – Crail Balcomie
- Tuesday 15th – The Dukes Course
- Wednesday 16th – Kingsbarns
- Thursday 17th – The New Course
- Friday 18th – The Old Course
- Saturday/Sunday 19-20th – attending The British Open
“I’m pretty keen to watch Jason Day and also keen to follow Tiger Woods to see how he performs after his long break and how he copes with his back injury and pain.”
Having played golf infrequently in the past, O’Brien started to really take an interest towards the end of 2013. “I enjoy playing as much as possible and find it very therapeutic as well.” O’Brien said.
O’Brien has played interstate at Townsville Golf Club in Queensland and at Thurgoona Golf Club in NSW and in South Australia, his golf experiences have been at Adelaide Shores, Belair Park, North Adelaide, Penfield and Tanunda Pines. While his favourite course, is The Stirling, for its hills location and beautiful views.
Currently residing in Mawson Lakes in Adelaide, O’Brien will be looking to move closer to the City upon his return, where he can expand upon and improve his golf skills and confidence.
Golf SA would like to wish Nick O’Brien the best of luck with his golfing adventure.
If anyone would like to donate towards Soldier On please refer to the fundraising page.
“It is about appreciating that even the strongest, even the bravest, even the toughest, can carry scars through life that need to be understood and accepted. I congratulate Soldier On for the work they’re doing … recognising and helping all who are part of our ex-service community.” – The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Prime Minister of Australia
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To view ABC TV Interview – 'Positive response to veterans help program' > Click Here
To read Bronson's Story > Click Here