The EDGA PDC initiative will provide invited eligible G4D (golf for the disabled) players with comprehensive access to specialists in their field, from coaches to physiotherapists.

This will include guidance on: player management, dealing with the press, nutrition for competitive golfers, using swing data, golf technique, course management and understanding peak performance – offering knowledge, skills and understanding that can support players before they play on the G4D Tour for the first time.

Launched in 2022 by EDGA and the European Tour Group, the G4D Tour sees the world’s best golfers with a disability compete on the same course and in the same week as the professionals on the DP World Tour. Nine tournaments are scheduled for 2023 and this year has seen the introduction of a season-long Order of Merit to crown the Number One player.

The competitive standard is already high, amateurs and a number of professionals share the tee with golf handicaps among the amateurs typically ranging from ‘plus’, scratch, to a maximum of 3.4.

The golfers qualify for the G4D Tour through the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD – https://www.wagr.com/wr4gd-ranking), which features G4D events from around the world, 100-plus of which are staged or endorsed by EDGA, the not-for-profit body which is expert in golf for the disabled, that lists 39 National Governing Bodies in its membership.

The first EDGA Player Development Camp is scheduled for January 21-25, 2024, hosted at Quinta do Lago, Portugal.   

Invitations will be sent out to 12 players from EDGA member countries who have successfully climbed the World Ranking. Eligible players will not have played on the G4D Tour before, and will be contacted after the finalising of this week’s World Ranking (as of Wednesday, August 16, 2023).

EDGA President Tony Bennett said: “The G4D Tour has been successful, from the start, because it is a highly challenging series of tournaments where golfers with a disability are faced with championship golf course set-ups in the exciting weeks of the DP World Tour. It is a real test and that should be the case. Add in to this all the factors like detailed preparation and international travel, and we believe we can help the next raft of players who qualify to play. Our specialist trainers and advisers can help our players to take the correct steps they need to be the best they can be.”

Tony Bennett added that the 12 players for the first camp in January will be made up of the top eight eligible players in the Ranking, the leading two women players and two under-21 players. “We believe this is a positive step to support emerging players in this area of the EDGA player pathway. And while the leading golfers in the Ranking may gain more media attention, it will be the turn of the leading European Net and Stableford players in September as they contest the RSM European Play-offs. The player pathway is for every golfer with a disability, from those individuals with a disability trying golf for the first time, to more regular golfers. Our programmes reflect our desire to help all people with a disability to thrive through golf.”

EDGA provides advice, guidance and standards to leading golfing bodies, including: The IGF, The R&A, the DP World Tour and the EGA.

Article by Ben Evans, media@edgagolf.com, August 2023
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