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European Disabled Golf Association welcomes Jana Brabnikova

The European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) is delighted to welcome formally Jana Brabnikova as its new Executive Assistant. Jana, an experienced administrator, will support the Executive Committee at an exciting time of growth for the organisation.

EDGA assists golfers with disability to compete internationally and sees them as ‘Golfers First’. EDGA is supported by the European Tour, The R&A and 20 National Golf Federations, plus several valued partners. Supported by globally respected health and disability experts, the organisation is currently in discussions with the International Golf Federation (IGF) as it seeks to influence the Paralympic bodies so that elite golfers with a disability are able to take their golf to the very highest international level.

Jana Brabnikova joins the EDGA team in a year in which it has successfully expanded the ‘EDGA Tournament Series’ in Europe for competitive players from different categories (12 tournaments this year as opposed to four in 2013) and has created the international ‘Ranking for Golfers with Disability supported by PING’ to help raise competitive standards, encourage the growth of events and promote international networking between players.

EDGA President Tony Bennett said: “EDGA is delighted to welcome Jana to the team and we will value greatly her organisational skills, her experience in disability golf in the Czech Republic and, crucially, her enthusiastic attitude and passion for the work.”

Jana, who lives in the Pilsen region of the Czech Republic (West Bohemia), said: “The whole EDGA movement is at a really exciting time in its support of golfers with disability and I had no hesitation in wanting to help in this aim. After six years of being involved with disability golf in the Czech Republic I was keen to offer my experience and also learn something new at international level. I have very much enjoyed helping EDGA’s members and volunteers, and the whole team and I are looking forward to a great year for the organisation in 2017.”

Jana recently assisted EDGA in its role as Official Charity of the Portugal Masters, won by Padraig Harrington. She also played a key role in organising EDGA’s major event this year in the shape of the EDGA General Assembly, which took place in early December at Pestana Vila Sol Golf Resort, alongside the III EDGA Algarve Open 2016, the last tournament of the season which enjoyed a record number of entries.

EDGA is fortunate that former General Secretary, Manon Cupillard-Eggermont, will remain with the organisation. Manon has performed an excellent job for EDGA over several years and will now focus her attentions on the EDGA Sport Committee as the Tournament Series grows.

* See more on EDGA at www.edgagolf.com and on Facebook at European Disabled Golf Association

Article by Ben Evans | EDGA Media

 

EDGA will help young people to try golf thanks to fundraising at Portugal Masters

The European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) raised €22,500 as the European Tour’s Official Charity of the 2016 Portugal Masters, which finished on Sunday (23rd October).

As the eventual champion Padraig Harrington battled it out with Andy Sullivan and other top players, EDGA enjoyed a unique profile throughout the week at Vilamoura courtesy of the European Tour. The EDGA team and volunteers were able to raise funds during the tournament which will be spent on a groundbreaking project to introduce children with disability to golf.

The project is also supported by the Portuguese Tourism Board, and will effectively start during the EDGA Algarve Open in December at Vila Sol (December 1-3). Here, a group of coaches will be trained to deliver golf to children with disability, enabling them to work across Portugal, visiting rehabilitation centres and disability groups to share the fun of golf with youngsters and their families.

EDGA is in an excellent position to support the expansion of initiatives which promote the development and delivery of golf for individuals with impairment across Europe, working with 18 national golf federations. While its own Tournament Series has grown from four events in 2013 to 12 in 2016 with a truly international feel, EDGA members wish to support all golfers with disability at the grass roots of the game and encourage new players of all ages.

The EDGA President said: “We would like to offer a huge thank you to the European Tour for selecting EDGA as Official Charity for the 2016 Portugal Masters. This opportunity enabled some wonderful volunteers to support us, and a challenge by the Million Dollar Hole-in-One during the Pro-Am helped raise €22,500, which can all be spent directly on introducing youngsters with disability to golf in Portugal.

“The Portuguese Tourism Board, the European Tour, the Algarve Tourism Association and other organisations in this country are helping EDGA to reach more individuals with disability through this project. Our thanks go to all those involved. They will help us to improve sporting choices, social opportunities and confidence levels for children as they enjoy golf. This sport can be a wonderful lifetime activity and should be made available to everyone wherever possible.”

EDGA has been supported in 2016 by The Ryder Cup European Development Trust, The R&A, the European Tour, PING (PING staff player Lee Westwood is also an EDGA Ambassador), Glenmuir and The Algarve Tourism Association.

EDGA will report further on the progress of the pilot project to help youngsters with disability during the EDGA Algarve Open in December.

Article by Ben Evans | EDGA Media