“There are so many of our friends around the world who have played in an EDGA event, competed hard… later spreading the word. This EDGA ‘family’ is continuing to break down barriers to welcome more people into our game.”
The first-ever G4D Open at Woburn (May 10-12) has been deemed a great success, competed for by 80 men and women with a disability from 17 countries. All types of impairment were represented – physical, sensory, intellectual and neurodevelopmental – playing in nine sport classes in this tournament staged by The R&A in partnership with the DP World Tour, and supported by EDGA.
Of course, with eight of the top 10 players from the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) taking part, the leaderboard was plastered with the names of the leading golfers, with Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor and England’s Kipp Popert battling it out before the Irishman held his nerve to win by two shots; while Kim Moore from the USA played sustained strong golf to win the female category by four shots over Ireland’s Fiona Gray.
But let us also think a little more widely here. There are nearly 3,000 competitive pass holders associated with EDGA. These ‘golfers first’ have created the seismic shift in G4D (golf for the disabled) in the last few years. They have all helped to build a genuine movement across 39 golf nations, without whom this historic event at Woburn would not have taken place.
The G4D Open correlates with that famed event The Open, also run by The R&A, who are at the wheelhouse of growing the game; last week should be celebrated as a significant step forward for inclusive golf. But everyone on EDGA’s player pathway: samplers, participants and competitors have played a key part.
EDGA President Tony Bennett said: “The closing ceremony at Woburn was wonderful for all present, including deserving champions Brendan and Kim, and nine sport class winners which we will list here. It was fabulous to see The R&A’s tournament director Susan Simpson present the prizes with all watching, smiling and clapping, and all the fantastic volunteers getting recognition for excellent work.
“But it is worth remembering that this historic tournament wouldn’t have started but for many, many of our EDGA golfers who have travelled to so many of our events; all to tee it up in the Gross, Net and Stableford tournaments. There are so many of our friends all around the world who have played in an EDGA event, competed hard before enjoying a unique social experience and then later spreading the word about how golf can help others to thrive. This EDGA ‘family’ is continuing to break down barriers and welcome many more people into our game.
“If you are one of these people, and you have seen, read, or heard the coverage of The G4D Open, and the G4D Tour recently, we hope you realise how grateful all of us at EDGA are for your input into the evolution of G4D.”
The G4D Open was certainly one of the most inclusive high-profile golf events ever staged, competed for over 54 holes on Woburn’s Duchess Course. This was the first time sport classes were used to include athletes from multiple impairment groups: nine sport classes in all, covering ‘Standing’, ‘Intellectual’, ‘Visual’ and ‘Sitting’ players.
Brendan Lawlor’s three-over-par winning gross total of 219 came after a final round of three-over 75, narrowly closing out Kipp Popert, who finished two strokes further back after his last-day 76. (Leaderboard here.)
Brendan said: “It’s just an unbelievable feeling. It’s been an incredible week. The volunteers, The R&A, DP World Tour, EDGA, everybody involved has put in so much work to get this championship done. Every player here, we felt like royalty this week… Disability golf is definitely on the way up.”
Kim Moore – who triumphed in the US Adaptive Open at Pinehurst last year – was the leading female at Woburn, finishing four shots ahead of Ireland’s Fiona Gray in another absorbing contest.
Kim said: “It’s an honour to be the leading female… I have no doubt that it’s going to bring more players, more participants, more people into the game – and hopefully more females.”
A gross prize was also awarded in each sport class with the winners as follows:
- Intellectual 1: Felix Norrman, Sweden
- Intellectual 2: Casper Holst-Christensen, Denmark
- Standing 1: Kipp Popert, England
- Standing 2: Juan Postigo Arce, Spain
- Standing 3: Brendan Lawlor, Ireland
- Sitting 1: Terry Kirby, England
- Sitting 2: Graham Freeman, Belgium
- Visual 1: Stefano Palmieri, Italy
- Visual 2: Joseph McCarron, USA
Final scores from the sport classes can be viewed here.
Symposium on G4D can create positive change
This G4D Open week also offered a unique opportunity to stage a third Symposium on Golf for the Disabled.
Kevin Barker, Director of Golf Development for The R&A, welcomed delegates to Woburn from as far afield as Canada, South Africa and Australia, saying he was delighted that together they could “share knowledge, learn, collaborate and find solutions in the rapidly developing area of G4D, helping more people to thrive through the power of golf”.
Encouraging and inspiring new golfers with disability, treating them with equity at all stages of their journey through the game and improving current practices, were key themes.
EDGA was able to bring 23 years of expertise to proceedings, with presentations on the player pathway, the development of ‘white label’ EDGA resources that can be used by golfing bodies to grow the game and recent advancements on medical classification and the support of players.
Delegates were delighted to welcome EDGA players Erika Malmberg of Sweden and Mike Jones of Wales and hear their fascinating personal stories on how golf has helped them to continue their development and create confidence.
Progress of the G4D Tour by the DP World Tour, the USGA’s journey with the US Adaptive Open and first-hand experience from RSM on the benefits for companies in supporting G4D, all added to the shared expertise in the room.
EDGA works with NHS Foundation patients to create legacy
On a square area of grass near the Woburn clubhouse, EDGA’s Head of Instruction and Education Mark Taylor and PGA professional coach Leah Roelich were able to engage with two groups of mental health patients from the East London NHS Foundation Trust, offering EDGA’s ‘D3’ first-touch format using safe, light, colourful, adapted GolfWay chippers and putters with soft balls that can be used in non-golf venues, such as hospitals and schools.
In a successful session, witnessed by Tom Pursglove, UK Government Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, the Trust’s Health Development Co-ordinator Steve Muggridge was clearly delighted with how it encouraged his patients who had never tried golf before. Steve said: “From the opening minute this was accessible, fun, interactive and highly inclusive. The equipment we used was perfect for our patient type.
“It’s great to see the patients happy and absorbed in a task and smiling as they see the results. Some of our mental health patients experience low moods and loneliness, and this group activity can have a huge benefit on their wellbeing.”
Jamie Blair of England Golf had introduced the East London NHS Foundation Trust to EDGA. Jamie will now help to connect Steve and his team with local golf facilities so that they have the know-how to support any interested individuals or groups who wish to take their golf further.
Steve added: “While Leah inspired our patients, Mark trained our therapists and volunteers during the session, who can now deliver golf in our in-patient wards and outside in the summer. Our therapy team can now link up with our Trust’s other community venues, to encourage their patients, and a little down the line we can link with a local golf club through this scheme.
“I came along today hoping for inclusive activity for the day for our patients, and have actually been given a complete pathway into a new sport. It was also fantastic that at the end of the session, The R&A gifted a complete set of GolfWay equipment for use by our team and patients; it was a lovely gesture.”
Leading study to enhance G4D game
Woburn was also the perfect venue to proceed with EDGA’s year-long research project looking into the golf swings of golfers with disability.
The academic researchers anticipate that the results will further increase the body of knowledge and so better support golfers with a wide range of impairments, leading to improved competitive opportunities, reduction in injury, while welcoming new players to the game.
The plan is to analyse at least 200 golfers over the next year, including players with visual impairments. Players, tournament organisers, national governing bodies, PGA coaches, professionals working in sports medicine, and equipment manufacturers can all benefit from this research.
Thanks to players and volunteers
The ultimate test for the week was the satisfaction level of the golfers taking part. The Duchess Course presented a tough challenge in sometimes difficult weather conditions (including thunder and torrential rain on day one), but the smiles from players were ever present.
Alessandra Donati of Italy commented: “I felt honoured and celebrated to participate in this first big event. It felt like a dream for me, for all these years in which I have been committed to improving my golf and promoting this movement.”
David Watts of South Africa said: “This tournament was extremely special for its inclusivity. Despite the cold and the rain, golfers were smiling, laughing and enjoying being part of a prestigious event.”
A trio from England summed it up further. Aimi Bullock called it “wonderful, an amazing experience”, while Johnny Reay said: “Thank you for giving us the opportunity we have all dreamt of.” Oliver Hirst-Greenham added: “Massive thanks… you guys are changing lives.”
Tony Bennett concluded: “Huge thanks again to all 80 of the players involved, you did a great job. Thanks again for every player connected with EDGA who has helped turn the dial for ‘golfers first’ in recent years. Particular thanks also to the teams at The R&A, DP World Tour, Woburn and EDGA, including so many volunteers who selflessly gave up their time to make the inaugural G4D Open so special. It was well worth it.”
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