René Schwenk’s pursuit of perfection
René Schwenk, a native of Pforzheim in South West Germany, embodies the spirit of perseverance and dedication that defines a true athlete. Reflecting on his passion for golf, René shares, “Why do I love golf? Because it’s a sport in which you’re never going to be perfect, so you always have to work on yourself. Sometimes it’s really challenging, but it brings you a lot of joy, working on yourself and reaching small goals.”
René’s journey with golf began unexpectedly, as he moved from the soccer field to the fairways and greens thanks to his father’s introduction. “The first time I played golf, my Dad brought me to the golf course. I always played soccer, so it wasn’t a natural choice for me to play golf. But when he introduced me to the game, it was a whole new sport for me, but I loved it from the first seconds,” he reminisces. His talent quickly became evident, ranking him among the top 20 in Germany and top 50 in Europe during his youth.
However, René’s aspirations for a professional golf career faced a significant challenge when he discovered a tumorous growth on his shinbone. “I discovered that I had a small bump on my shinbone, and we found out that it was a tumour. It went further, and we had to take it out, and then the whole cancerous thing started.”
Despite the initial surgery allowing him to continue playing golf for several years, a subsequent tumour near his knee required a more drastic procedure. “They had to take out my whole knee and get rid of most of my shinbone, and that’s where my problems started with walking. And that’s why I have a stiff knee, I can’t really bend it.”
René’s determination never wavered, even after receiving the tough news. “When I heard the message, it was pretty tough at the exact moment, but I always was a guy who was pretty direct with myself, so I said, I cannot change it, I didn’t choose it, and that was always my mindset. I had to go on, and that made me pretty tough.”
René continues: “My body felt the same way as before, so I tried to play the same way, but I learned that my body wouldn’t move the same way, and my mind wouldn’t let me put pressure on my left leg the same way.”
Despite the physical and mental challenges, this resilience helped him adjust to playing golf with a prosthetic knee and shinbone. Playing out of Rheintal Oftersheim GC, the 25 year-old’s return to tournament golf has been impressive, including in 2023, third place in the EGA’s European Championship for Golfers with Disability, and rising to a high (so far) of 13 in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability.
“It’s so important to have goals, you know, and to set yourself goals and to work towards them,” says René. “That’s what this kind of G4D gave me back.”
His hard work and levels of practice have brought him back to a 0.4 handicap, and he is focused on competing at the highest levels. “I want to get in the top 10: be a safe player there, and try to compete in most tournaments on the G4D Tour.”
In May 2024, René qualified to play in The G4D Open on the highly challenging Duchess Course at Woburn, England, a tournament run by The R&A in partnership with the DP World Tour, supported by EDGA.
René says: “While I wasn’t really happy with my scoring, it was a great test at a great venue with amazing conditions. I learned a lot about my game under pressure. I haven’t played a lot of courses similar to Woburn so it was challenging. I’m already looking forward to next year.”
Seeing his former junior competitors now playing in the professional tour events inspires René. “I always wanted to be there, and a lot of guys I know from my junior days, now they’re really there and competing on the European Tour, and it’s nice to see, I always follow them.
“Being on the same kind of stage, and also enjoying the moment there, would be a big achievement.”
He now wants to catch some of these friends, and René is supported on his competitive journey by parents Jürgen and Geli, and Kim, Lenard, Christian, Moni, and Julius.
René is by profession a watchmaker: accuracy and consistency are attributes he lives by in life and golf. When you meet him, his seeming quiet confidence but respectful attitude, usually accompanied by a smile and a glint in the eye, all suggests he doesn’t fear the challenges out there on any golf course.
As an emerging player who was moving up the World Ranking, the young German was one of 12 golfers selected for EDGA’s inaugural annual Player Development Camp, held at Quinta do Lago, Portugal, in January 2024. Here, this enthusiastic group of players received plenty of expert advice, including coaching, nutrition, course management, media and marketing guidance and more. Having been an avid listener throughout this demanding week, René was praised by one leading coach for absorbing everything he needed from each session before looking to put it into action for himself.
Following his health issues and the need to rebuild his game again from scratch, René Schwenk will modestly call his golf a work in progress, but you feel that the glint in his eye is sparked by a priceless belief in himself.
Meanwhile his story reminds us powerfully that challenges can be overcome with determination and passion. René’s journey encourages others with disabilities to embrace golf, showcasing that the sport can offer a path to personal growth and immense joy and fulfilment.
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