EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association) is proud to announce the release of its latest film project, You Can, a powerful 30-minute documentary that showcases the transformative impact of golf for individuals with disability around the world.

Building on the success of previous acclaimed projects such as Mulligan and Living Our Best Lives, You Can is the next stage in EDGA’s mission to promote genuine inclusion through honest storytelling. The film is supported by The R&A and narrated by multiple major champion Pádraig Harrington, a long-time supporter of The R&A.

Filmed across several countries, You Can celebrates the diversity of the global G4D (Golf for the Disabled) community. Among those featured are:

• Issa Nlareb, a double-leg amputee from Cameroon
• Chris Willis, a Canadian golfer born with VACTERL syndrome and a rare association of birth impairments
• Torbjörn Svensson, a blind and deaf golfer from Sweden
• Melody Roccaz, a seated golfer from France.

Together, their stories highlight not only the diversity of disability, but also the rich tapestry of gender, race, nationality, and personal experience—all unified by the joy, freedom, and empowerment found in golf.

Tony Bennett, President of EDGA, said: “This film is a statement of possibility. It’s not just about golf, it’s about showing people what they can do, who they can become, and how sport can unlock confidence, community, and opportunity. We believe it will inspire more people with disability to pick up a club and take that first swing.”

EDGA’s wider You Can campaign aims to be both highly encouraging and also practical, to empower viewers through the knowledge of how to get involved, whether through local golf programmes, national federations, or the growing number of G4D events across the world.

Pádraig Harrington added: “Four amazing people, and four amazing stories. Their message to you: you can play golf. I hope they’ve inspired you to take up this wonderful sport.”

EDGA internal teams created the film alongside Big Bounce Productions. It will be broadcast on Sky Sports on December 3, at 7.30pm, with additional international airings planned. The film will be available on EDGA’s website and social media channels, providing a valuable tool for golf clubs, coaches, educators, and advocates to help spread awareness and opportunity.

See more on EDGA at edgagolf.com

“You Can” seeks to encourage brand new golfers with a disability through the shared personal experiences of established players. Their highly positive messages and stories aim to ignite the imagination of others to join in and try the game.

While “You Can” is all about putting each golfer first, inspiring each individual to dream, it enhances EDGA’s mission to make golf truly inclusive for people with a disability.

The campaign launch coincides with the EDGA Algarve Open at Pestana Vila Sol and the organisation’s 25th anniversary celebrations. During the event, a new EDGA book will be seen for the first time – called Changing Lives – that tracks the evolution and key milestones of EDGA, while players will be presented with a memento to commemorate a quarter of a century and the launch of “You Can”.

Now live across EDGA’s digital touch-points and rolling out through member countries (EDGA advises and supports 50 national golf federations), the “You Can” campaign is designed to empower individuals with disability to see golf as a sport where they truly belong. Its central message, “You Can Play Golf”, is supported by three powerful themes: Make Friends, Compete, and Improve Health. Together, these emotive messages reflect the broader impact of golf beyond the course.

“With ‘You Can’, we’re flipping the script,” said Scott Bennett, Head of Marketing at EDGA. “This isn’t about inclusion as an afterthought, it’s about representation that feels real, powerful, and personal. Golf can offer confidence, health, community, and competition, and this campaign reflects exactly that. We wanted to make sure this project speaks to people with disabilities, not just about them.”

The EDGA team feels that unlike many sports campaigns in which disability is added almost as a side note, “You Can” was built by, and for, the G4D (Golf for the Disabled) community.

Crucially, every image, message, and story is drawn from real players and their lived experiences. It highlights the diversity of disability, not just the most commonly represented, and brings to life the barriers, breakthroughs, and benefits that only those with first-hand experience can truly articulate.

Rita Sampaio, the designer who created the campaign for EDGA pro bono, said: “The concept behind this campaign is ability, regardless of the limitations each person may have. The focus is on the player and their skill in the game of golf. ‘You Can’ is a message of empowerment, an invitation for more people with disabilities to experience this inclusive sport. We want every person with a disability to see it and think, ‘Yes, I can do that too.’ Everyone featured is a real golfer, with a true story. That’s what gives the campaign its strength.”

With QR codes on all materials linking to deeper content: videos, interviews, and written stories, “You Can” encourages confident participation through honest storytelling. The campaign is designed to reach future players where it matters most: including in rehabilitation centres, hospitals, and community spaces. And thanks to its adaptable branding, member countries can tailor the messaging while staying aligned to a unified, global movement.

The “You Can” materials are now integrated into the EDGA 8-Stage Programme, which is supported by The R&A and explores: getting started; locations (assisting venues); the workforce; communication; encouraging new and regular players; competitions and events; professional coaching education; and legacy.

Through this programme, EDGA aims to support the growth and capacity of national federations as they work to attract individuals with a disability to the game of golf.

See more on EDGA at edgagolf.com

The golfers with a disability coming from 10 countries and four continents were revealed today. They will assemble at Quinta do Lago, Portugal, in January (21-25), 2024, for the first Player Development Camp of its kind, supported by the European Tour Group.

In a planned intense week of learning, professional specialists in their field, including coaches, nutritionists, performance experts and marketeers, will offer training and advice to the promising players, who have all qualified to take part via the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD).

The 12-player group, none of whom have played in a previous G4D Tour or EDGA Professional Tour event, will be made up of the eligible top five players in the Gross Ranking, the leading three eligible women players and four emerging talents.

It is anticipated that the level of assistance offered to the emerging talent pool in this first and subsequent PDCs will only serve to energise further the competitive pathway in G4D (golf for the disabled) created by EDGA over the last decade or so. The international golfers taking part can gain the tools to challenge the leading lights on the already successful G4D Tour, while showing a great many other players in the World Ranking that there is a route to the very top open to those who are dedicated to work on their game and improve.

Launched in 2022 by EDGA and the European Tour Group, the G4D Tour sees golfers with a disability compete on the same course and in the same week as the professionals on the DP World Tour.

The following players will be welcomed by the EDGA team of experts to Quinta do Lago:

Russell Aide (aged 16, Canada), Thomas Colombel (aged 21, France), Heather Gilks (aged 18, England), Casper Holst-Christensen (aged 27, Denmark), Mehmet Kazan (aged 42, Turkey), Tycho Kuiper (aged 14, The Netherlands), Rene Schwenk (aged 24, Germany), Daniel Slabbert (aged 32, South Africa), Natasha Stasiuk (aged 25, Canada), Gustav Stigsson-Andersson (aged 18, Sweden), Natascha Tennent (aged 16, Australia), and Chris Willis (aged 43, Canada).

Invitations were sent out to the leading eligible players in the World Ranking from the 39 EDGA member countries (who had not competed in a previous G4D Tour or EDGA Professional Tour event), and also included highly rated emerging female G4D players and leading young talent.

EDGA President Tony Bennett said: “We are delighted with the cross-section of talented and switched-on players taking part in our first EDGA Player Development Camp from 10 countries, who have all exhibited a thirst to learn and a joy in pushing themselves on. Although the G4D Tour is an understandable draw for players to test themselves over championship golf course set-ups in the exciting weeks of the DP World Tour, the PDC is about helping these players to develop skills to take on any test in golf. The specialists on site and the wonderful facilities at Quinta do Lago, will give the players the opportunity to explore their potential.”

Tony added: “Our work is to make the journey from sampler to competitive golfer seamless. Not everyone wants the same thing from golf, and that is the overall message for an inclusive landscape, which is to provide choice across the player pathway. There has never been greater opportunity for golfers with a disability, but G4D is still young in its development and there is a lot more to come. The PDC is just one of our initiatives that will help the whole player pathway, while we can see the number of golf courses improving their facilities increasing, more professional coaches learning how to better train players with disabilities, and an increase in the number of tournaments available at every level.”

During the PDC week players will have the opportunity to learn from others how to develop their knowledge and skill sets, and how they can use these to add fuel to their career development.

More details of the line-up of specialists who will support the PDC will be revealed soon, as will thoughts and expectations of the players taking part.

See more on EDGA at www.edgagolf.com

A key ambition is to further enhance the current classification of players with different impairments into ‘sports classes’ that will ultimately help the golf industry to understand and attract more of the 15% of people worldwide who have a disability.

EDGA believes that it will not only be the players who benefit from the research findings, as tournament organisers, national governing bodies, PGA coaches, professionals working in sports medicine, and equipment manufacturers will also find the results of this study valuable in helping support the growing market of G4D (golf for the disabled).

The research began during back-to-back EDGA Tour events at the Amendoeira Golf Resort in Portugal in January. The EDGA development and eligibility team used a Trackman launch monitor to record an initial 1,100 golf shots from 25 EDGA golfers with a range of impairments, including paraplegia, limb amputation, limited mobility and neurological weakness. Metrics included capturing ‘smash factor’, spin rate and clubhead speed.

The plan is to analyse at least 200 golfers over the next year, including players with visual impairments. Research will continue at key EDGA Tour events in Scotland, Ireland and England, including at the inaugural The G4D Open, staged by The R&A with support from the DP World Tour, at Woburn in May. Video will also be used as the project grows, and it is hoped this initiative will continue far beyond the initial 200 players.

EDGA has extensive knowledge accrued over 22 years in the classification of golfers with a disability and their eligibility for different forms of competition. The not-for-profit organisation created many of the medical protocols used in player assessment worldwide, set up the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (now run by The R&A and the USGA), and stages, or is associated with, more than 100 international G4D tournaments in a calendar year.

Ethics approval

Professor Eric Wallace from Ulster University helped develop the protocols of the new research, and gave ethics approval. The first results are expected to be published in 2023.

Leading the project, Dr Roger Hawkes, EDGA Executive Director of Eligibility, said: “To examine in detail the swing characteristics of a large cohort of players with a disability should give the golf industry far better understanding of how different impairments influence a golf swing, thus unlocking a door to the needs of more golfers.

“This research will help golf’s governing bodies in the important areas of classification, and sports classes, around different player impairments for events. Meanwhile, we can all help to include more new players with a disability to start in golf. This project can help more people with different health conditions to enjoy all the great things that the sport offers.”

PGA coach Mark Taylor, Head of Development for EDGA, led the first player session at Amendoeira. Mark said: “The ball flight and impact data collected from the cohort of players with various impairments will form a starting point for the ongoing research. Analysis of the data, specifically impact data and subsequent ball flight patterns, will help collate – as the research progresses and the cohort of players analysed increases – valuable information in categorising the sports classes.”

Evidence based research

Mark added: “The recognition of impact commonalities across the various impairments will also hugely assist in providing evidence based research to support our coach education programmes, subsequently better positioning coaches to provide improved coaching to golfers with limitations.”

Mark Taylor wanted to give special thanks to The R&A, and leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK, for their continued support in EDGA’s research, and also to Srixon for providing golf balls throughout this intensive testing programme. All are strong supporters of EDGA as it seeks to change the lives of people with disability through the power of golf. The objective is to help 500,000 people with disability to try the game.

William Wynter Bee is a Sports and Exercise Medicine doctor based at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH) at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), and is the Medical Lead for the Legends Tour. Will is helping EDGA for the year to maximise the health benefits for the golfers taking part in the research.

Will said: “The opening of this research has already put us together with some competitive and talented golfers who love the game. Looking ahead, through the data and also the insights of 200 or more golfers, this will provide some fantastic learning for us. We hope we can support the players by way of strong findings from a health perspective, including advancing the cause of fitness and avoiding injury. It will be great if this leads to the golf industry being able to welcome more people with chronic health conditions to play, where regular exercise can make a major difference in their lives.”

See more on EDGA at www.edgagolf.com

The 36-hole EDGA event will be integrated into the 54-hole LET event to be played at Skaftö Golf Club.

Following two practise rounds, the first 18 holes of the new EDGA tournament will tee off just after the LET professionals on Saturday, August 27.

The final 18-holes, to take place on Sunday, August 28, will be integrated into the last round of the LET event, with the competitors teeing off at intervals of every five to six matches.

The field for the inaugural EDGA event, played by eight golfers with a disability (four male and four female) will see four sponsor invitations joined by four players who qualify from their position in the World Rankings. The players will be fully integrated into the event and enjoy the full experience as will every LET player on site at the Skaftö Open, and they will enjoy the thrill of being cheered along by the gallery as part of the final day action.

Golf is unique in that all ages, genders and abilities can compete together, and this tournament will further support one of EDGA’s primary missions, which is to help individuals with impairment to start, stay, succeed and enjoy golf. Together the LET and EDGA are dedicated to broadening opportunities for individuals to get involved with golf and give new competitive pathways for golfers.

The LET and the organisers of the Skaftö Open are committed to making golf more inclusive with a shared desire to create a closer connection to golfers with a disability.

Alexandra Armas, CEO of the Ladies European Tour, said: “As an organisation, we are passionate about making golf more diverse – in the broadest sense. Along with our partners, our goal is to change the face of golf and make the sport we love more accessible and inclusive. We are committed to raising our game for everyone and this is just the start. We will build more involvement and diversity into our tournaments in the future.”

Tony Bennett, President of EDGA, said, “The Skaftö Open has a history of breaking new ground. The collaboration between the promoters of the Skaftö Open, the Ladies European Tour and EDGA demonstrates that golf is moving to greater inclusivity and illustrates golf’s commitment to a more diverse demographic in the sport.

“Women are currently underrepresented in golf, but this is changing, and this visionary initiative will help bring greater awareness of golf to women with a range of disabilities and is yet another example of the willingness of all parties to push the boundaries.”

LET player Alice Hewson said: “It’s really exciting that we will have an EDGA tournament alongside an LET tournament at the Skaftö Open. It’ll be fantastic for the LET girls to see players with impairments playing golf, and proving that golf is a sport for everyone.”

“We are so much looking forward to host an EDGA tournament together with our LET event Skaftö Open later this summer. The EDGA golf players are so impressive and it’s truly inspiring to watch them play golf. We would like to acknowledge these amazing golf players and give them a chance to show what they can do in a bigger arena,” said Reine Patriksson, Promoter Skaftö Open.

About EDGA
EDGA is a not-for-profit volunteer-based association of the National Golf Federations from 34 countries worldwide. EDGA focuses on boosting awareness of the inclusive nature of golf, developing capacity within the golf industry, and providing opportunities for golfers with a disability throughout the player pathway. Please find more information at: https://edgagolf.com/

About the LET
The LET inspires women and girls to pursue their passion and realise their potential through the game of golf.
At our core, we aim to build and deliver an extensive competitive schedule of events to enable our strong, energetic, proud, and confident players to compete at the highest level, pursue their dreams and lead by example.

Our diverse and multicultural membership of 362 professional golfers represents as many as 36 countries. We are a global tour with roots in Europe.

We aim to entertain and excite, but also to enhance health and quality of life, as a responsible, committed and respectful partner.
Inspiring – our players are inspiring role models to follow and encourage others to pursue their own dreams.
Passionate – we are driven by a passion to perform to our full potential and get better every day. It’s not just about the money or the glory, but a true love for the game.

Committed – we are fiercely committed to continuous improvement and recognise the grit that it takes to achieve long-term goals.

2022 marks the 44th season of golf tournaments since the professional tour was founded in 1978 and the third edition of the Race to Costa Del Sol. This year’s schedule includes 34 events in 22 different countries and a record-breaking prize fund of €30.7 million.

The LET Access Series is the official development tour of the LET, formed to give players an opportunity to compete and progress onto the LET and achieve their dreams in professional golf.

Follow the LET
Ladieseuropeantour.com
Facebook: LadiesEuropeanTour
Instagram: LETgolf
Twitter: LETgolf
YouTube: LadiesEuropeanTour
Flickr: Flickr.com/photos/ LadiesEuropeanTour
#RaiseOurGame

Ander Martínez has been elected as the new president of the PGA of Spain for the next four years. He replaces David Pastor who has been in charge of the association for the last eight years.

The new Board of Directors of the PGA is composed of Ander Martínez, as president of the PGA of Spain; José Vicente Pérez Cuartero, vice president; José Marcellán, Alfredo Borrás, Antonio Planells, Marta Prieto, Carlos Vivas, Vicente Blázquez and Victoria Martín.

In recent years, Ander Martínez has coordinated the National Circuit of Professionals (Seve Ballesteros PGA Spain Tour) as Head of the Male Professionals section.

Ander has been a PGA Professional and a PGA of Spain Member since 1996, running his own golf school for 25 years. Across his career, Ander has claimed three professional victories: the Challenge Ciudad de San Sebastián in 1999, the Open Zarauz 2005 and the Laukariz Peugeot Loewe Tour in 2008. From 2012 to 2019 he worked as a golf course manager and has also worked as a caddy for different professionals on international circuits.

“Being a member of the PGA of Spain all these years has been a great experience and I am proud to be part of this spectacular family ”, Ander commented when he was inaugurated.

In the vice-presidency role he will be accompanied by José Vicente Pérez Cuartero, who will continue with his work acrosss the Association’s Education department. José Vicente is a Level II Sports Technician, a Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) Golf Development Team Member and Director of Training of the PGA since 2013. He also teaches classes, in addition to being a Tutor at the National School of Sports Technicians of Golf and Tutor by the CPG.

“During this electoral process, the union of three different candidates has been the key to form a single collective leadership, which will lead the PGA of Spain more effectively and grow its influence” said Ander Martínez.

“I also want to take this opportunity to publicly thank the work of our previous president, David Pastor, and the previous Board of Directors for their efforts, work, dedication and loyalty to the PGA of Spain.”

A luxurious hardback title, Seve – His Life Through the Lens, charting the life and career of Spanish golfing legend Severiano Ballesteros has been released today. The new 176-page book has been produced by award-winning photographer David Cannon, who has lovingly put together the most iconic pictures from Seve’s life and career, many of them seen for the first time by the general public.

The CPG is delighted to offer its members and supporters a 10% discount to celebrate the book’s release. Please click the link below and enter code at checkout and the discount will be applied.

CODE: CPG Discount

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR COPY

To find out more about the book, please contact Tim Munton [tm@cpg.golf] or Tom Bentley [tb@cpg.golf].

“Because I have two children I can’t say, that’s it, and think of suicide, or whatever. That was never an option for me… I had to go forward. I was 34 and it’s too young to die.”

HOW I PLAY came from the recognition that there is a general lack of knowledge for potential and existing players and coaches who are new to golfers with disability. The series aims to provide tips and tricks that the featured players use to help them play to the best of their ability.

HOW I PLAY is hosted by Tony Bennett who discusses golf technique, preparation, recovery, practice routines and course strategy with the featured players. In each session Tony calls on highly skilled coaches, who add their insights to help bring the discussions within reach of all players, regardless of ability.

Four seasons of HOW I PLAY are available, each with six players, and together they provide a comprehensive map of impairments commonly found amongst golfers with a disability.

VISIT EDGA GOLF

EDGA, the body that supports golfers with physical, intellectual and sensorial disabilities, is keen to use the opportunity provided by the European Tour to raise awareness and grow participation in inclusive golf this week during the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick.

A number of leading EDGA players will also be present to encourage the spectators at the Inclusive Golf Stand in the championship village. EDGA is happy to work closely with Leuchie House, one of the tournament’s Official Charity Partners and Scotland’s only dedicated respite centre, which offers caring respite breaks to people with long term neurological conditions.

Scottish Golf has also got behind EDGA by ensuring the members from 11 golf clubs in the area have helped to promote the free golf lessons available during the tournament in the build-up to the event.

The European Tour and EDGA will also be conducting outreach programmes in the wider community. This will include a visit to Leuchie House in North Berwick on Friday to provide a modified golf session to patients and carers.

By encouraging people with a disability to try the game at The Renaissance Club and Leuchie House, EDGA is continuing to work towards its stated objective of introducing 500,000 people to golf.

Mark Taylor, Head of Development for EDGA and a qualified PGA Professional, said: “Thanks to all at the European Tour and EDGA’s partners, we have an excellent opportunity here to introduce many new people to golf, alongside our friends at Leuchie House, with Support from Scottish Golf.

“Golf is a wonderful sport for those of all abilities and we have seen so many people who have experienced disability, illness or injury, feeling better physically and mentally by playing golf, including finding new social and confidence-building opportunities, making new friends. We therefore look forward to saying hello to many new and established players with a disability this week, while family members or friends will also receive the warmest of welcomes.”

Find Out More @ www.edgagolf.com

You can find out more and meet the EDGA community across our social media platforms: Facebook: @EuropeanDisabledGolfAssociation, Twitter: @edgagolf, Instagram: @edga_golf

As the first ever Golf and Health Week takes place from 15-19 April, EDGA is to show its support of golfers with disability through a unique and fun ‘pledge and PLAY’ day, completing some 2019 golf holes in 24 hours. 

Golf and Health Week is a collaborative campaign, coordinated by The R&A, which will run across digital and social media channels using the hashtag #GolfHealthWeek and include content focused on highlighting the physical and mental health benefits of playing golf and projects being delivered by golf bodies and clubs.

EDGA, a supporter of #GolfHealthWeek, is an international not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to help people with impairment to play, succeed and enjoy golf. The 17th of April is dedicated to golf for those withdisability and EDGA is backing the campaign to raise awareness of golf being a viable sporting option for all.

A new EDGA driven ‘pledge and PLAY’ initiative is aiming for players, staff, officials, coaches, volunteers, and friends of EDGA, anywhere in the world, to play a grand total of ‘2019 holes’ on the 17th of April. Look out for #EDGAPledgePlay, before, during and after the 17th April, on social media.

There is no cost to get involved in ‘pledge and PLAY’, simply visit www.edgagolf.com/pledgeplay, pledge the number of holes that you intend to play, log your details, your name, the course you are going to play, the people you intend to play with, and if possible the starting time.

On the 17th, all EDGA asks is that you enjoy your game, confirm the number of holes you played and send a photo/video of you and your partners as you play the course. If you like you can send a few words about your day (you will have the option to upload a photo, video or short story to the EDGA website). EDGA will have a live ‘Hole Counter’ on the day and as holes are confirmed they will be added to the running total.

Tony Bennett, President of EDGA, said: “We at EDGA are delighted to be supporting Golf and Health Week. This dedicated campaign to raise awareness of the health benefits of golf is a wonderful opportunity for golf to send a strong message that golf is good for you. We hope all friends of EDGA will support our pledge and PLAY efforts to play 2019 holes together on the 17th of April, the day when we are marking the importance of the sport for existing and brand new golfers with a disability. Please help us to achieve our goal of 2019 holes – your support is crucial!”

Focusing primarily on Great Britain and Ireland, Golf and Health Week will be co-ordinated by The R&A with the support of – along with EDGA – the European Tour, the Ladies European Tour, The Professional Golfers’ Association and the Golf Foundation, as well as national associations including England Golf, Scottish Golf, Wales Golf, the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union. A number of other organisations have also expressed interest in supporting the week.

For those who wish to support pledge and PLAY (which is totally free) please visit www.edgagolf.com/pledgeplay now!

You can find #EDGAPledgePlay and meet the EDGA community across our social media platforms: Facebook: @EuropeanDisabledGolfAssociation, Twitter: @edgagolf, Instagram: @edga_golf