With 13.5% of the Irish population (643,131) having a disability (central statistics office 2016) we believe it is imperative to grow the opportunities available to those with disabilities in golf. The R&A from a practical point of view have subdivided disabled golfers into groups, each of which has a need for different rules modifications.
These groups include:
- Visually impaired Golfers (54,810 of Ireland’s population are blind or visually impaired (CSO 2016))
- Amputee Golfers
- Golfers requiring canes or crutches
- Golfers requiring wheelchairs
- Golfers with learning disabilities
What are we currently doing?
We are currently examining our own inclusion practices as our vision is to become an organisation that leads by example in this field. We have begun work with cara and to date we have:
- Created a disability action plan to be completed by December 2020
- Signed up to the cara Inclusion Charter
- Supported the deliver of Els for Autism training
- Received Dormant Account Funding
- Joined as members of the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA)
- Attended the R&A “Golfers with disabilities” conference
- Attended the EDGA and IGF International Eligibility Consensus meeting 2020
- Provided education to all staff members around the area of inclusion by attending disability inclusion training
- Delivered practical leader’s training to volunteers who will be running sessions for people with a disability
- Supported the delivery of the Cork “Inclusion for all” programme
- Supporting various local sports partnerships in the delivery of disability awareness days
- Set up a Disability & Inclusion working group
Both the GUI and ILGU currently grant aid to various organisations that deal with golfers with disabilities e.g. Irish Blind Golf, Irish Deaf Golf. They also provide free coaching, access to the GUI academy, uniforms to several individuals availing of the grant aid and to Special Olympics.
Caption: Volunteers from Donaghadee GC taking part in activities during their practical leaders training delivered by CGI.
Phase two plans
Our commitments for phase two of our development plan is to:
- Develop a section on the website that directs people to the relevant organisations
- Create a series of case studies that showcase the opportunities for golfers with disabilities
- Increase awareness on how clubs could be taking steps to become more inclusive
- Undertake an inclusion awareness survey to identify what golfers understanding of inclusivity is and use this to measure success by undertaking it in two years’ time
- Support the delivery of a PGA inclusive workshop
