Opening Golf to the World
The G4D Open
Why The G4D Open is “the best thing” for players of all ages
16 May 26
6 mins
While 80 golfers with a disability at The G4D Open in Wales have created public excitement about their sport this week, the Championship’s organisers have been collaborating to ensure ever greater opportunities for everyone in the G4D (golf for the disabled) space.
The R&A, partnered by the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA, created a packed schedule of events at the Celtic Manor Resort, welcoming people of all ages with disability to try the sport for the first time. Close to the Roman Road Course, an international conference has been staged to share the best ideas and innovative thinking on G4D with influential golf and health voices from around the world. Being one of the most inclusive championships ever staged, as part of its legacy, The G4D Open has become a significant forum for growing the sport, this year being staged in Wales for the first time after an opening three years at Woburn.Children loving first go
With golf try-out areas adjacent to the course, schoolchildren and students aged 12-21 experienced the joy of trying golf for the first time as part of organised D3 activity (short golf over three holes with safe and fun equipment). “This is definitely the best thing we have ever done outside our college,” exclaimed a student from ALN (Additional Learning Needs) Neath Port Talbot College, as young adults (16+) enjoyed high-energy D3 games led by Welsh PGA Advanced Professional Coach Hannah Bowen and EDGA’s Head of Education Mark Taylor.
As part of the wider legacy, a new partnership has started with Sport Caerphilly. Children with special educational needs and disability (SEND) were welcomed to the venue from Caerphilly schools thanks to charities the Golf Foundation and the Golf Trust: the latter charity has been introducing in the local area both new players with disability, while offering continued provision to existing G4D players.
Learning from the Edges
EDGA, experts in the G4D space, organised this ‘first-touch’ activity. Mark Taylor said, “It has been fantastic to see the shouts of joy and smiles on the faces of so many youngsters present at The G4D Open. Their enthusiasm has been a real highlight in supporting this Championship, which is all about growing opportunity to reach more people through G4D and improving facilities, while working with brilliant local partners, including Wales Golf.” Mark then gave additional training to coaches in the region – the PGA Professionals who can welcome new players into the game. Mark trained six PGA Professionals to further enhance their coaching skills, including, as examples, working with players who use wheelchairs, people who are visually impaired, players of all ages with limb difference, and those with neurodivergent, or complex neurological conditions. This innovative ‘Learning from the Edges’ project started with Mark’s coaching of the PGA Professional staff at Celtic Manor, led by Head Professional Nathan Bateman, in early April.DP World Tour support
The DP World Tour has supported a new EDGA community project with the Morrello Clinic, the renowned rehabilitation centre in nearby Newport. EDGA has been training the clinic’s expert physiotherapists to offer golf to help people of all ages in recovery from injury and illness.
The DP World Tour has donated tailored golf equipment for D3 golf sessions inside and outside the clinic in this initiative funded by The R&A, and clients and staff came to Celtic Manor to attend their own coaching session at Celtic Manor on Saturday.
Conference sessions
A full series of conference sessions over two days welcomed delegates from 20 international organisations including from India, Mexico, Canada and Japan. EDGA President Tony Bennett hosted an explanation session on the ‘8-Stage Pathway’, a significant industry guide to implementing a more inclusive game for all through G4D. Leading New Zealand G4D player Guy Harrison spoke from the heart about how important golf has been to him, finding the game aged five after a life-changing seizure left him clinically dead for ten minutes when he was just three years old. Guy is a Royal and Ancient Golf Club Scholar, the programme assisting young people from around the world with the passion and potential to shape the future of golf. Guy said, “I’ve always been passionate about getting more people, especially kids, into sport. Golf is one of the most inclusive sports in the world, it’s nice to be able to use my passion and my skills to encourage more people to feel like they can be part of it and have a go.”Importance of research
Education panels were staged on coaching development for national federations, including reports from individual countries. A session on the value of medical/player performance evidential research to the wider sport and health sector was led by Dr William Wynter Bee, EDGA’s Head of Medicine and Research.
Further education input came on the player competition pathway; research specialists Sporting Insights offered data examples that demonstrate G4D’s potential, while the opportunity to build capacity to better serve the emerging G4D market (16% of the world’s population are disabled) was explored in detail.
The International Golf Federation (IGF) shared its views on the upcoming Paralympic bid for the Brisbane Olympics 2032. Wales Golf presented on their part in the legacy of The G4D Open, supported by a presentation from Tom Rogers (Disability Sport Wales).
A number of the G4D players present shared fascinating insights from their perspective, including England’s Johnny Reay, Denmark’s Mette Wegge Lynggaard and Mike Jones of Wales.
Jim McKenzie, Director of Golf Courses & Estates Management at Celtic Manor, and Jason O’Malley, Managing Director of Woburn Golf Club, spoke on the value for their members, staff and volunteers in staging this Championship.