Riccardo Bianciardi, from the beautiful old city of Siena in Tuscany, is a strong advertisement for all the good in Italian golf as he says hello to us in his smart azure blue Italian shirt bearing his national badge, greeting us with a wide smile and still youthful good looks at the age of 33.
For some time now, golf has been a salvation for him, helping him engage with life following the neurological condition he was born with but also as a balm for recent struggles that have certainly drawn upon his reserves of courage. In October 2018, Riccardo had a kidney transplant that wasn’t successful. He therefore had to start kidney dialysis, and looking for distraction after five months in recovery he took part in his first EDGA event, the Italian Open which, remarkably, he won! Fate would play its hand again in 2022. Riccardo had a second kidney transplant, which this time went well, and nine months later he won the EDGA Giovanni Nasi International, also in Italy. To be able to get himself well and record such a feat is surely amazing and a mark of the man.
Riccardo’s childhood was at times difficult, born as he was with the neurological condition focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), with permanent hemiparesis (a weakened right side). His balance is further compromised by having irregular shaped feet. These issues would mean that contact sports such as football were difficult for the young Riccardo. However, when he was 12 years-old and at school in the town of Poggibonsi, near Siena, he took part in a project for a sport that was perhaps perfect for him: Riccardo discovered golf.
He has never looked back. Since his first sessions in the game in 2004, he has worked hard to improve his skills and make a name for himself in the golfing community. His job in supermarket retail is ideal for managing his time in order to practise frequently. And with a handicap today of just under 10, Riccardo is now one of the top golfers with a disability in the Net World Rankings (WR4GD). One of his proudest moments was to represent Italy in the EGA’s Nations’ Cup in Germany in 2024.
Riccardo tells us: “Golf is my rebirth where I have found personal growth, learning never to give up and remain patient.
“I discovered golf with my golf school project and it was love at first sight! Today I am a member of the Abbadia Golf Club, Colle Val d’Elsa. Over the years, with my golf teachers, I am managing to find the right golf for me, and improving to a level I am happy with.”
Riccardo’s golf journey has not been without its hurdles. The challenge of hemiparesis, a constant companion, demanded unwavering focus and resilience. Yet, Riccardo approached each obstacle with a steely resolve, working tirelessly to improve strength and balance along with his skill levels and enhancing technique.
“Certainly with my disability, balance and weight management in my legs and feet remains a great test for me,” Riccardo explains. “With hemiparesis, some twisting for a better shot creates difficulty and loss of balance. I’m working on strengthening my body for better stability. Like golf, it takes time to get results.”
Five years ago, Riccardo embarked on a new chapter, venturing into EDGA competitions, where he found encouragement in the stories of fellow players. At events, he discovered camaraderie and shared passion, a community united by their love for the game.
Riccardo tells us: “The beauty of golf is the challenge between you and the course. I have always worked hard and though I love to smile on the golf course and enjoy it, I am also very competitive!
“Currently my handicap is 9.9. I have been playing EDGA competitions since 2019; it is inspiring to see other players with their own stories sharing this beautiful sport.”
However, Riccardo’s most remarkable triumph came in 2022, when just nine months after undergoing that second kidney transplant, he clinched victory at the EDGA Giovanni Nasi International, an achievement that helped him to qualify for, and then win, the 2023 RSM European Net Play-offs in England.
The energy of Riccardo helped to light up this event held at North Hants Golf Club, west of London. His friendly welcome for fellow players and officials, and his clear sense of humour out on the course, were appreciated by all. For the three days, the man from Tuscany was a vital part of a quartet of Italians who shared their pride in the blue of the ‘Azzurri’ with everyone present.
Riccardo explains: “Afterwards I was emotional. It was wonderful to play with the Italian badge on my shirt. I called my father and he was overjoyed and crying on the phone!”
Fast forward to January, 2024, and Riccardo found himself on the cusp of a new adventure, preparing to make his debut on the G4D Tour, which is staged by the DP World Tour and EDGA for qualifying players through the World Ranking. The Ras Al-Khaimah Championship was in fact the first Net tournament staged by the G4D Tour and Riccardo had qualified being at that point 11th in the Net Rankings. Describing it as “a great honour” to play, he later said: “The G4D Tour event in the Emirates was a surreal experience. I never imagined I could go there, especially for golf. It was the first G4D Net event and I was part of it which was amazing.”
The Italian would finish just two shots behind the eventual champion Robin Rambo Singh of South Africa, coming so close to victory but for a few stray shots near the end of the final round and finishing in third place.
“My family was super happy with how the tournament went, and I was given a super welcome when I returned home. On the other hand, I regret it a little bit for two mistakes I made a few holes from the end. But it’s golf and that’s okay!”
At the time of writing, Riccardo could aim to go one or two places better as he had again qualified for the G4D Tour, this time for the Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters in October, 2024, at the iconic venue of Real Club de Golf Sotogrande.
“For the G4D Tour Andalucía Masters it was a nice surprise to be invited, because I didn’t think I would get back in the field. The night I received the invitation I was thrilled and I can’t wait to be there. I hope to be ready, but I have no expectations, the important thing is to be there.”
Riccardo says the G4D Tour symbolises more than just a platform for competition; it has been a beacon of hope and inclusion. Through initiatives like G4D and the EDGA Tour, Riccardo says such events “encourage us to improve ourselves and to work harder”. Golf is undoubtedly more than a game for this generous-spirited man. It has become a canvas upon which he paints his dreams and defies the limits of possibility.
Riccardo says: “I would like to thank my parents first of all because they have always supported me throughout my journey: I am devoted to them for the person I am now. My girlfriend Giovanna, who is always next to me, and also to my mentor, Joe, who introduced me to this wonderful sport and who believed in me from an early age. We haven’t seen each other for several years, but we continue to talk and this makes me very happy. Finally, I would like to thank my golf club, Abbadia, and my sponsor Terrecablate. I thank everyone for all their help.”
Looking back to when he first played as a boy, it’s perhaps surprising that his first golfing hero was not a top Italian player but Nick Dougherty, from Bootle, near Merseyside in England. The young Riccardo clearly saw a little of himself in Dougherty, who rose to become a multiple winner on the then European Tour, and is now a much-respected Sky Sports Golf presenter, and a supporter of EDGA’s work in recent years.
Riccardo says: “As a child I followed Nick Dougherty, I liked his game, attitude and being smiley. At that time I wore a visor and unkempt hair and I had a Callaway bag, just like Nick. Unfortunately, when I learned of his retirement I was sad. But today when I see him on TV and social media, it makes me smile, especially seeing him in G4D messages. He is a fantastic commentator now.”
This charming Italian and his English golf hero Dougherty now both present themselves with more dapper hair styles, while both men possess wide smiles that appear to be in part forged by all that is good about the game. These are the smiles of people who have great things to get up for in the morning, and who love what they do.
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