Sam ready to tee off for Big V

SAM Smythe is a man well known for his love of sport, but it’s his passion for golf that has come to the fore.

Now the Mildura Golf Resort member will achieve a dream by pulling on the ‘Big V’ in the game he has come to love.

Smythe has been selected to represent Victoria at the inaugural Special Olympics Australia National Golf Camp and Tournament, taking place at the Gold Coast’s Palm Meadows Golf Club on the Gold Coast on October 23 and 24.

The Special Olympics has been developed worldwide to give sporting opportunities to individuals with an intellectual disability.

Smythe earned selection following a tournament in Melbourne earlier this year, and he’s still pinching himself at the opportunity.

“It was a bit of surprise… if you had have said to me five or six years ago I’d get the chance to play for Victoria I would have probably laughed at you,” he said.

“I’ve put all the practice in and it will hopefully be a good reward.”

Smythe, who currently plays off a handicap of 14, took up the sport seven years ago after his brother put him in touch with PGA professional Wade Hooper, although he admitted he was “pretty ordinary” at first.

“Hopefully I can get it down to 13 by the time I get to the Gold Coast,” he said.

“The international games are in Perth next year, so if I do alright hopefully I can get picked for that, but I’ll just worry about this one first.

“I’m really looking forward to it.

“I played at Palm Meadows in June so I’ve got some knowledge of the course.”

James Hammond, state manager for Victoria and Tasmania Special Olympics, said Smythe earned his inclusion into the burgeoning program.

“Sam’s fitted into the team really well and the guys are really happy to have him on board,” he said.

“The golf program is building really well.

“There previously hasn’t been these kind of opportunities outside of the national games.

“They were on last year but we knew the interest had been building, which brought about this event, and there’s been huge interest from around Australia.

“From Victoria, we’re sending a team of eight where in the past we would have been lucky to have three even put their hand up, so it just goes to show how far it’s come.”