EDGA - making golf fully inclusive
Andy Sullivan watching as Kipp Popert is about to play another fine wedge shot onto the green

EDGA - making golf fully inclusive

No alt text provided for this image

Having left home before 6am on Monday morning, I had an early test of my patience this week to then be stuck on the M25 for nearly two hours having only moved a mile and a half! I can only hope that the accident ahead was not too serious for those involved. Fortunately, I managed to get underway again and arrived just before our 10:30am tee time at Batchworth Park Golf Club for the RSM UK EDGA Golf Day. Unfortunately, I was too late to get some much-needed tips from Ladies European Tour Player, Alice Hewson, and Men’s European Tour player, Andy Sullivan, in their masterclass as a prelude to the competition. 

The golf day was unique in that it was about raising awareness of and funds for EDGA. Every four-ball team included an EDGA player, many of whom joined us straight from competing at the main European Tour event at Celtic Manor the previous day. Playing alongside these talented players helped me to understand the challenges faced and was a great showcase for the incredible work EDGA have done and continue to do. I was particularly pleased to play with plus-three handicap golfer Kipp Popert, who I had never previously met, but I knew of his golfing reputation as he reached the semi-finals of the Kent Men’s Amateur Championship 2021 earlier this year. 

No alt text provided for this image

Part of the day was to have some fun while fundraising for EDGA along the way. Each member of a team had the opportunity to purchase a mulligan (a free shot) or allowing Alice or Andy to take one of our shots for us. Alice played a nerve-racking (for me, at least) delicate downhill chip shot which ended up nicely near the hole; Andy took a shot of mine from 120 yards and hit it to a foot from the hole – money well spent as participants had to pay a donation to EDGA for this privilege. All donations received on the day went towards EDGA and will support their ambitious plans to get many new players with a disability to try golf for the first time, while also working towards getting disability golf accepted as an official sport at the Paralympic Games.

But no charitable organisation can rely on fundraising events such as these alone. I have been proud of the financial support and commitment that has been provided by the RSM UK Foundation, where I am a trustee. Our corporate foundation’s recent donations have contributed to supporting the work of EDGA to provide a meaningful proof of concept to level the playing field and equality across all impairment groups, through ‘sporting classes’ (none currently exist in disabled golf). The funding aims to allow pilot testing to take place with the collection of player data in the field and to provide a workable framework for a wider study. We have also covered some of the costs of transportation / accommodation of EDGA players and support staff to take part in the European Tour and demonstration events and the Ladies European Tour in 2021.

I hope our guests had a great time and here are some photos of the day. To find out more about EDGA there is a 44 minute timeless film that shares the stories of six golfers who refuse to be defined by their disabilities, it can be viewed by clicking here.

With special thanks to the EDGA players, all our guests, Andy Sullivan, Alice Hewson, Kirsty Sandwell for hosting the event and Kate Kermack and Liz Bhandari for doing all the hard work behind the scenes and organising a great start to the week.  

#EDGA #Paralympics #Paris2024 #Golf #AliceHewson #AndySullivan 

Aimi Bullock

Volunteer CEO at Women’s G4D a charitable organisation to be a voice for women in G4D, drive up female participation in golf for disabled around the world, and create more playing opportunties.

3y

Thank you for your support and helping us aim to reach our goal of introducing golf to 500,000 people with disabilities #GolfForEveryone #GolfForGood

To view or add a comment, sign in

Insights from the community

Others also viewed

Explore topics