EDGA GOLFERS FIRST PODCAST

This is episode 68 of the EDGA Golfers’ first podcast.

This week we introduce you to the story of Tom Doherty, the new RSM European Stableford Play-Off Champion, we explain why we use the term G4D.

STORIES

Inclusive golf? “Let’s spread the waves, let’s move those barriers,” says Ireland’s Tom Doherty.

Talking with Tom, it is clear he understands that the camaraderie and togetherness that can be found at an inclusive golf event can create a great sense of community for those taking part.

This man from Killarney ­­– which is a fine tourist town in beautiful Kerry in Ireland’s south, where the locals are much more likely to say, ‘how are you?’ than ‘who are you?’ – is passionate about community. And, just recently, in 2022, after the Covid couple of years, he has begun to find himself on a mission to spread the vibe about how golf can help others, including those with a disability; physically, mentally, and socially. You just need to remove the barriers, he says, and welcome new golfers with some sincerity. 

Doherty has seen that Ireland as a nation is taking progressive strides to make the game more inclusive; this year he believes a little personal mission of his own can be perhaps something of a companion piece, on a local level in the Kerry region.

What’s in a name

Consistency of terminology is essential if we are not to complicate an already confused market. In the next few minutes, I will explain why we use the terms G4D and GwD.

The appropriate use of language/terminology has shifted several times over the decades as new models of disability have emerged and been delved into by scholars. Within an international context, the use of people-first language is advocated, which in golf terms would translate to ‘golfers with a disability or, more specifically, to terms placing the golfer first when naming the impairment or condition, so for example’ golfer with neurological impairment’. Such language aligns with the so-called third wave of the disability movement and is termed the “self-advocacy wave”.

The first self-advocacy conference in 1974 gave rise to the people-first movement as engineers of this wave aimed to empower the person with a disability by first recognising their individuality rather than their impairment. This understanding guides our belief that the golfer comes first, and we encapsulated this in our January 2014 strap line when we stated ‘EDGA - Golfers First’.

We recognise that the use of person-first language is a step in the right direction, but it is by no means a perfect solution.

The terms’ Disabled Golf’ and ‘Disability golf’ put the emphasis on the disability first. So if we consider the term ‘Disabled Golf’ - both ‘disabled’ and ‘golf’ are nouns. In this structure, the first noun is the focus of attention, modified by the second to provide context.

In reality, everyone forms their own identity. Perhaps this identity is that of a father or mother, husband or wife. Maybe one’s identity is that of a sports player, business owner, teacher, soldier or carer. Perhaps it is as a senior, adult or youth, successful or victim. However, the person identifies, it is their identity. We think that the hierarchy of identity is important.

EDGA was guided by the number of players who state that they do not feel disabled, even though they have an impairment. This understanding indicated that we should use the term G4D for the sector and GwD for the players.

Welcome to this edition of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast. After a short break, this episode brings you the qualifiers for the RSM European net and Stableford play-offs, mentions EDGAs collaboration with Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada, and rounds up the G4D Tour at the BMW-PGA Championship held at Wentworth.

So let's get to episode 66 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

In 2021 the RSM European net and Stableford play-offs were launched at the Stratford on Avon Golf Club, the home of Samual Ryder, the founder of the Ryder Cup. Stratford, perhaps best known for English playwright William Shakespeare, is a beautiful town in England's West Midlands. From the 20th to the 22nd of September, it will be the venue of jousts of a different kind when European qualifiers in the net and Stableford divisions battle to take home the title of European Champion in their respective divisions.

Sixteen qualifying players – eight from each category – from the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) will tee it up in the three-day matchplay knockout tournament. The accent for the week will be on top competition on the fairways while raising awareness for golf as a great sport for anyone looking for positive new activity. The innovative EDGA event is supported for a second year by leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM.

Alongside the tournament play, RSM staff, who have been trained as volunteers by EDGA, will provide outreach sessions to several disability associations and offer a 'first touch' of golf to a new audience in this area of Warwickshire.

EDGA member federation Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada are committed to providing opportunities for people with disabilities to experience golf's physical, psychological, and social benefits.

As part of this commitment, the national golf organisations have been discussing with EDGA how they can prepare the workforce to ensure a good experience for potential new players. The EDGA 359 programme will be presented by Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada, partnering with EDGA as part of their coach training designed to demystify adaptive golf and give coaches the confidence needed to launch and develop programs for golfers with disabilities across Canada.

Laura Wilson, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Safe Sport for Golf Canada, said

"Through this coach training, we are eager to increase support for golfers of all abilities and make our sport inclusive of more Canadians,"

The G4D Tour event at The BMW-PGA Championship took place at the iconic Wentworth Golf Club. The west course has been the home of both the PGA Championship and World Matchplay championship for decades, and some of the most exciting golf in Europe has taken place over the closing holes. The course was no pushover at 6,700 yards, with firm greens and heavy rough. Four players were within three shots of each other as the final round started, but it was Mike Browne who made a charge getting to the turn in three under and finding himself in a share of the lead with Brendan Lawlor and Kipp Popert. The lead changed several times on the back nine before world number two Kipp Popert firmly closed the door on his challengers with a birdie on the last for a three-shot win and his third G4D Tour win of the season.

This week's Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast features an update to the Juan Postigo Arce story. It is available on our website and most leading podcast platforms along with our youtube channel, which can be found by typing edgagolf tv into your browser.

Welcome to this edition of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast. This week we look at the recently finished G4D Tour event at the ISPS World Invitational in Northern Ireland. We have a round-up of the players currently in position to qualify for the RSM European Net and Stableford Play-offs and give you the heads up on how we are helping in the development of golf's coaching professionals.

More and more people are starting to play golf; for some, it is the opportunity to spend time with friends in the open air; for others, it is the freedom to grab their clubs and go to hit a few balls or play some holes in solitude. Whatever the reason, golf is becoming a go-to sport for thousands who enjoy the unique opportunity that the game provides.

For a recent article in the media, I wrote that golf is a unique sport, in that each player has his or her own ball, meaning control of one player's performance by another is impossible. In golf, the ball is stationary, so players with a visual impairment or a physical impairment that restricts or inhibits movement have the time to prepare. Regardless of ability, gender, age, or ethnicity, every golfer needs to take a club to hit a ball to a target that may be near or far. But of course, you already know this - you are a player.

Sadly though, most of the world thinks that golfers with a disability play a different game, a game called disabled golf, which couldn't be further from the truth. The game that golfers with a disability play is golf, not an adapted version with bigger holes, shorter lengths, or with bumper bars on the side of the fairway to keep the ball in play. The game has some minimally modified rules where necessary, not as drastic as allowing for the playing of two drives where you can pick the best one or not counting penalty shots; there are no guidelines on the greens when putting. None of this is allowed, but rather golfers with a disability simply play the same game in the same conditions as everyone else. 

The G4D Tour event at the ISPS World Invitational was played at Galgorm in Northern Ireland. The winner was Tommaso Perrino from Italy, who scored six under par over the two days of competition. With an opening round of minus 4, Tommaso was paired with local favourite and world number one Brendan Lawlor. As the winner of this, the fourth G4D Tour event of 2022, will now go on to play the DP World Finale in Dubai in November and join Kipp Popert and Mike Browne, who have already secured their place in the season-ending showcase. 

Invitations for the 2nd RSM European Net and Stableford Playoffs are just a week away from being confirmed. The ranking for WR4GD week 32/22, published on the 17th of August, will decide the invitations, and with several events to fall off the ranking before then, it is likely that there will be changes in the ranking order. The RSM Play-offs are a great example of how RSM supports G4D across every level. Currently, the players in the top eight positions of the net ranking come from six different countries, and likewise, the same can be said of the Stableford ranking. 

Once again, our Head of Development, Mark Taylor, has been working with the coaches, this time in South Africa. Our work to help ensure that coaches are well prepared to receive golfers with various impairments and help them with their games is stretching across the globe. The work we do with the national federations and PGAs to help ensure that today's and tomorrow's coaches are well prepared is ongoing. Although it gets very little fanfare from the media and is often drowned out by the press coverage of tournament golf, it is game-changing initiatives such as these that ultimately shape the landscape of golf and will make golf the most inclusive of all sports.

Welcome to this edition of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast. This week fresh off the back of two tournaments, the USGA Adaptive Open in Pinehurst, The RSM Gross series event at Rockliffe Hall and the much-anticipated Golf and Health Congress in Edinburgh, and as always, a sneak preview of this week’s Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast which features Jennifer Sraga from Germany.

The United States Golf Association Adaptive Open took place at Pinehurst number 6 in North Carolina. The 54 holes tournament was played out in the steaming heat of the North Carolina Summer, where high humidity levels are typical. The event, for which no expense was spared, was contested by 96 players in various impairment categories. The USGA created winners in each of the eight impairment categories, as defined by the USGA, in both male and female divisions. The overall champions were Simon Lee of South Korea won a playoff against Sweden’s Felix Norrman in the men’s section, and Kim Moore took the trophy in the women’s section.

There is little doubt that the impressive inaugural event will become a sought-after event in years to come and has changed how golf for the disabled is perceived in the United States.

Rockliffe Hall Golf Course near Darlington was the venue for the latest RSM Gross Series event and the RSM Charity Day. Teams of four took part on the practice day, with EDGA players leading teams that included RSM staff and guests in a team format event. The course at Rockliffe was running well due to the dry weather conditions that had persisted for weeks. According to the players, the course was in good condition and a strong test for the players who competed over the next two days in the gross, net and Stableford divisions. The Stableford winner was Rich White, with 61 points over the two rounds. Rich was fresh from having attended the 150th Open Championship as a spectator and took inspiration from the players competing at St Andrews. In the net division, Edward Mason from Buckinghamshire took the honours with two net scores of 74 for a total of 148. The gross section winner was the inform Bradley Smith with scores of 71 and 70 for a two-round total of minus three, to take the second EDGA Gross series win of the year. Bradley’s good scoring has seen him enter and race to 9th place in the latest ranking.

The 2nd International Congress on Golf and Health took place on the 18 and 19 of July 2022 in Edinburgh. The 2022 edition took place in Scotland, the Home of Golf, highlighting its players' wide range of health benefits. EDGAs Dr Roger Hawkes led a Golf session for the Disabled, and the attentive audience included Fiona Bull from the World Health Organisation, Marree Todd from the Scottish Government, Debbie Palmer from the IOC, and representatives from The R&A, DP World Tour and FIFA. The session illuminated the audience with why golf is such a good game for people with a variety of impairments and promoted a more holistic view of why G4D has the power to change lives and the game for the better.

Welcome to this edition of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast. This week we are at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews. Although we know that golf for the disabled is relatively new, compared to the 150 years of the Open, the first association explicitly formed for golfers with a disability was set up in 1932 just down the road from here in Glasgow. We also know that golfers with a disability have played the game for much longer, with players such as Dunblane golfer Robert Martin, a high leg amputee, who won his club championship in 1923 and 1924.

In this episode, we tell you about the first golfer with a disability that EDGA has entered into the Junior Open. We also give you a flavour of the Champions Celebration at the Open Championship, where four EDGA Players teed it up with the champions of golf over four holes at the iconic Old Course. As always, we have a sneak preview of this week’s EDGA Profile which features Rich White, who found EDGA due to seeing the G4D Tour on Sky Sports. So let’s get to episode 63 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

G4D Community

The first formal community of golfers with a disability was the Society of One Arm Golfers, formed in 1932. As the name implies, it had a very narrow focus on players using one arm. According to the society, “Membership is open to all persons whose non-playing hand or arm is physically impaired and as a result play golf with only one arm”.

Several other associations were soon set up. In the United States of America, the National Amputee Golf Association was formed in 1954 and others around the world followed. Fast forward to today, G4D is in most magazines and on screens across the globe.

The Junior Open

Russell Aide became EDGAs first representative at The R&As Junior Open, played at the Monifieth Links just north of St Andrews. Russell, who hails from Stirling, not the one in Scotland, but rather the one in Ontario, Canada, came over and found a golf course very different from the one he is used to back home. At 15 years of age and standing 6 feet 5 inches tall, Russell is head and shoulders above many of his competitors, but that height advantage is not too helpful when the wind blows as it can so often do on the East Coast. Russell struggled to an eight-over par 80 in the first of three days and is hoping for better things as the tournament progresses.

The Celebration of Champions

Four golfers with a Disability were invited by The R&A to compete in the Champions Celebration on the Monday ahead of the 150th Open Championship. The event took place in front of thousands of spectators over the 1st, 2nd, 17th and 18th holes of the Old Course. Juan Postigo partnered three Open Champions, Mark Calcavecchia, Jordan Spieth and Ian Baker-Finch. Jennifer Sraga was paired with Henrik Stenson, Mark O'Meara, and the 2021 Latin America Amateur Champion Aaron Jarvis. Monique Kalkman played with three legends of the Open, in Gary Player, Sir Bob Charles and Scotland’s very own Sandy Lyle. The last of the EDGA players on deck was Kipp Popert, who had Stewart Cink, Paul Lawrie and five-time Open champion Tom Watson as company on this special day.

In a world that too often teaches people to look away from anything or anyone different, people with disability so often feel excluded or even invisible. Yesterday those eyes were perhaps a little envious and totally focussed on our four athletes as they competed with the best.

With the season in full swing in the Northern hemisphere, apologies for the slightly late publication of this week’s episode of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast. This week is a five shorter with news of further updates to the ranking, a short recap of this week's G4D Tour event at the Horizon Irish Open, a mention of the upcoming RSM event at the fabulous Rockliffe Hall and an update on the players currently in the position to contest the RSM European Play-off series for net and Stableford players. We also have a sneak preview of this week’s EDGA Profile which features David Reaney who is just getting started on his EDGA journey. So let’s get to episode 62 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

To ensure the WR4GD is truly representative of the current competitive environment, event ageing will be introduced to better reflect and reward players’ current form. This will start at the beginning of January 2023. Points and divisors from events within the most recent 52 weeks of a player’s record will count at full value. From there on, event points and divisors will reduce proportionately, approximately two per cent, per week before they drop out after 104 weeks.

Please note that the full points received will remain on the players playing record and you will not see these points decrease in value. Divisor and Average points total change week to week to reflect the ageing process. An example of ageing can be thought of as when Player A has received 10 points at an event.

In weeks 1-52, the 10 points will be worth exactly the same and so the divisor will remain at 1. In week 53 the 10 points earned will be worth 9.8 points, and the divisor will reduce to 0.98. By week 78 the 10 points earned will be worth 5 points, and the divisor will reduce to 0.5. By the time we get to week 103 the 10 points earned will be worth 0.2 points, and the divisor will reduce to 0.02, before dropping off altogether in week 104.

Congratulations to all those who competed in the G4D Tour Horizon Irish Open at the Mount Juliet golf course. Mike Browne led the field with a fantastic two under par on day one and then had to sit on the lead for not only the evening but well into the afternoon of the following day after heavy rain had played havoc with the course. Eventually almost seven hours after he was scheduled to tee off Mike hit his opening drive and recorded two bogies in the first three holes. Undaunted he soon steadied the ship and held off any pretenders to claim the victory with a level par total over the two days.

For those who have played in an RSM golf day, there is no need for me to explain how good the day is. This year the venue is the fabulous Rockliffe Hall and with our team, on hand all the players have a great opportunity to chat about their games, make new friends and compete in their respective divisions for monetary prizes in the gross division and vouchers in the net and Stableford divisions. This year the RSM day is followed by the RSM Gross series which also has net and Stableford divisions and is another chance to earn points to get into the much anticipated RSM European Play-offs at Stratford later in the year.

The leading eight players in position to be invited for the net playoffs, are Juan Postigo, Jari Vihanne, Andre Toth, Charles Henri-Quelin, Mike Jones, Filip Rataj, Pierre Dumas and Petri Takunnen. 

The Stableford division is led by Petri Partanen, Timo Pessi, Phillipe Petit, Magnus Grimberg, Mirsolav Halmo, Markku Korpimaki, Jacopo Luce, and Jean-Yves Padioleau. 

With just a few weeks left to qualify for the play-offs expect some movers from those trying to get into the top 8 spots of each division.

Welcome to this week’s episode of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast. This week’s episode comes from the Green Eagle Golf Course in Hamburg, the site of the G4D Tour@the Porsche European Open. We start with a short conversation with the Tour Director, José Maria Zamora, who talks about getting the course ready for our ten EDGA players. We have a sneak preview of this week’s EDGA Profile which features Steven Crocker from England. The penultimate shot is on the recent announcement made by the International Golf Federation and the International Testing Agency regarding their newly established partnership. The IGF delegated its Anti-Doping programme to the ITA at the beginning of 2022. Finally, we close out the episode with the big news that the Ladies European Tour and the Skaftö Open will host an EDGA-LET event in Sweden during August. 

So let’s get to episode 60 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Welcome to this week’s episode of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast. Our opening shot on this 5-shotter is the results of the Johnny Reay Classic held at Stoneleigh Deer Park in Coventry. Then we are off to talk a little about the support given by Golf Car UK, get an update on the RSM European Play-off series, a mention of the upcoming PING OPEN at Thonock Park, and finally, a snippet of this week’s EDGA Profile, that of Fredrik Fjaeraa. So let’s get to episode 59 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Our opening stroke is a mention of the winners from the Johnny Reay Classic in Coventry. The event was the first of the RSM Gross series and had the leading man and woman from the World Ranking competing along with two others from the top ten players taking part. The gross section was won by Brendan Lawlor of Ireland with a one-under-par total, the Net section was won by Johnny Reay himself after a commanding 6 shot win with scores of 67 and 71. The Stableford division was won by Tom Doherty with 68 points over the two rounds.

The competitors could enjoy the tournament experience at the recent Johnny Reay Classic, in part due to the support given by Golf Car UK. Mobility is a crucial area for EDGA players. In many cases, players with physical disabilities, such as amputation or neurological impairments find that buggies are vital to ensure they can play or continue to enjoy golf. Golf Car UK Ltd, the UK’s largest golf buggy supplier, provided ten E-Z-GO RXV Elite Lithium golf buggies for the competitors.

To have a supportive supplier in Golf Car UK to assist in our events in England is fantastic. The high quality, environmentally-friendly vehicles align perfectly with our desire for the highest standards on the EDGA Tour, as does the professional and highly efficient service from Golf Car UK, so a big thanks to Chris and his team.

Qualification for the RSM European Play-off series is nearing the final ranking used to decide the players. The final qualification table will be published on the 17th of August 2022. The Play-off finals, which will take place over the Stratford on Avon course in England in September, will be part of an even more prestigious event than was played in the inaugural 2021 edition. We are pleased to announce that in the early running for the eight players in each category, the players are as follows:

NET Players

Juan Postigo Arce - Spain

Jari Vihanne - Finland

Charles Henri-Quelin - France

Mike Jones - Wales

Filip Rataj - Czech Republic

André Toth - Norway

Pierre Dumas - France

Petri Takkunen - Finland

STABLEFORD PLAYERS

Petri Partanen - Finland

Timo Pessi - Finland

Phillippe Petit - France

Mirolav Halmo - Slovakia

Markku Koprpimaki - Finland

Jean - Yves Padioleau - France

Rodolfo Cappellazzo - Italy

Fabrizio Gardiol - Italy

Of course, with 13 weeks and a lot of tournaments still to count, there will likely be some changes, but if you are not on the list, are from a European Country and want to get into those top eight spots, then now is the time to move up the respective rankings of Net and Stableford.

Welcome to this week's episode of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast. This four-shot episode will come from the West Midlands of England. First we head off the iconic Belfry, home of four Ryder Cups, and then on the the EDGA Tours Johnny Reay Classic, which is the first of the RSM Gross series. So let's get to episode 58 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Welcome to this week’s episode of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast. This episode is brought to you by the Director of Tournaments for EDGA, Manon Eggermont.

As always, we have a short excerpt from the latest Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which features Johnny Reay from England.

We also have an update about the newly announced change to the ranking calculation which affects only the gross ranking.

So let's get to episode 56 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

As promised this episode is brought to you by the eligibility team, who I caught up with at Europe’s first event of the year in Portugal.

We also hear a short clip from Manon Eggermont the EDGA Director of Tournaments, in this weeks tough love and second chances podcast.

So let’s get to Episode 55 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

There is a change to Episode 54 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast. Originally planned as an Eligibility team podcast, after an unprecedented number of enquiries around the news of the G4D Tour, we decided to give some more detail on the newly announced Tour, in which EDGA has collaborated with the DP World Tour and European Tour group to make a reality.

As always, we have a short excerpt from the latest Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which features Ian Jones from England.

So let's get to episode 54 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Episode 53 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast is a short preview of the up coming Portugal swing, which has two events taking place, the first in Vilamoura and the second in Palmela just south of Lisbon.

As always, we have a short excerpt from the latest Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast which features former Nael Ogden-Smith from Bonn in Germany.

So let's get to episode 53 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Episode 52 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast is brought to you by the Development team, who take you on a journey through South Africa and on to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our Director of development Aimi Bullock, and Head of Development Mark Taylor, explain some of the ways that EDGA is helping new players find the game, and how through coach education we are able to improve their experience of golf.

As always, we have a short excerpt from the latest Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, featuring former Australian special forces command Damien Thomlinson.

So let's get to episode 52 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

The opening EDGA Golfers First Podcast episode of 2022 features news from the Tournament Team. We explain the start of the year and a little about some opportunities for tournaments in 2022. As always, we have a short excerpt from the latest Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which features Per Christian Nygren from Sweden.

So let's get to episode 51 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

The last EDGA Golfers First Podcast of the year is an opportunity to look back on 2021 and then forward to 2022. We have messages from our Directors of Eligibility, Development, Tournaments International Affairs and our Head of Development. We also have a short excerpt from the latest and last Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast of 2021, which this time features Graeme Mazur from England.

So let's get to episode 50 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

This weeks episode of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast takes us to three continents as we focus on three different strands of EDGAs work.

We give a little insight into last week's General Assembly of EDGA and play a short clip for this week's Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast.

So let's get to Episode 48 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

This week, the double act of our Director of Development Aimi Bullock and our Head of Development Mark Taylor take centre stage. In this episode, Mark and Aimi mention some young EDGA players who took part in the Rose Series and discuss the upcoming Algarve Open. Mark talks about our new EDGA Development website pages and his recent visit to the Federation and PGA of Norway.

As usual, we have a short teaser of this week's Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which features the number one gross player from the World Ranking for Golfers with a Disability, Kipp Popert from England.

So let's get to Episode 47 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

This week, we review the inaugural EDGA Playoff Series for net and stableford players and supported by RSM. We give an update on how we are working towards sports classes and have a short teaser of this week's Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which features Miroslav Halmo from Slovakia.

So let's get to Episode 46 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

This weeks podcast is from the Director of Tournaments, Manon Eggermont. Manon gives a short update from the recent EDGA Presidents Cup and also from the weather affected St Omer tournament.

You will also hear a short preview from the upcoming Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which this week features Vincent Helly from France.

So let's get to Episode 45 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

This week, we preview the upcoming EDGA-RSM Playoff Series, which will take place at the Stratford on Avon Golf Club, home of new EDGA Ambassador European Tour Star Andy Sullivan. We also have a short teaser of this week's Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which features Tero Peltola from Finland, and we point you to new resources we now have on our Youtube channel.

So let's get to Episode 44 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Episode 43 of the EDGA Golfers first podcast is given over to the Eligibility Team under the guidance of Dr Roger Hawkes. This week, he is in conversation with Tim Shepherd from Dwarf Sports UK. In this fascinating chat, Roger and Tim talk about a new eligibility standard to allow people of restricted growth under 18 years of age to gain a recognised pass for golf. Tim has learned more about golf through the EDGA 359 project and sees some incredible benefits for golf and many of his athletes.

We also have a short teaser of the upcoming Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which features Kurtis Barkley from Canada.

So let's get to Episode 43 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

After a two weeks break, this is episode 42 of the EDGA Golfers first podcast. This week, we review the recent four tournament EDGA-European Tour swing in Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England.

We also have a short teaser of the upcoming Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which features Petri Takkunen from Finland.

On the day when the final round of the EGA European Individual Championship was played, we hear from the winners.

So let's get to Episode 42 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

This is episode 40 of the EDGA Golfers first podcast. This week, it is a little different. It responds to several requests about the golf course on which the upcoming EGA European Championship for golfers with a disability is being played. 

The O'Conner course at the Amendoeira Resort in the Algarve region of Portugal is named after its designer, the four-time European Tour winner Christy O'Connor Jnr. Christy best known as the man who secured the point which tied the 1989 Ryder Cup at The Belfry with a two-iron approach to just four feet from the hole. Often confused with his Uncle Christy Senior, O'Conner was very much his own man, a supporter of the Special Olympics; Christy had a hand in designing more than 15 golf courses and continued winning even after he turned 50 years of age, with two wins on the Champions Tour and twice on the Seniors tour 

We also have a short teaser of the upcoming Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which this week features Duncan Hamilton-Martin from England. 

So let's get to Episode 40 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

In this weeks, EDGA Golfers First Podcast, we hear from EDGA’s Director of Tournaments, Manon Eggermont. In this episode, we hear about the upcoming EGA European Championship for Golfers with a Disability and the 2021 Presidents Cup.

We also have a short teaser of the upcoming Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which this week features Barry McCluskey from Glasgow.

So let’s get to Episode 39 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

This week the EDGA Golfers First Podcast, and we hear from EDGA’s Director of Development, Aimi Bullock, and our Head of Development, Mark Taylor. In this free-flowing conversation, listeners can hear how some of EDGA’s initiatives roll out as Covid restrictions start to ease.

We also have a short teaser of the upcoming Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which this week features Jigs Denby from Kings Island.

So let’s get to Episode 38 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Three tournament related stories dominate this weeks edition of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast. In no particular order, this episode looks at EDGAs involvement in the Rose Series, in the Ladies European Tour event at the Italian Open, and the EDGA and European Tour collaboration in the upcoming UK swing and beyond.

We also have a short teaser of the upcoming Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which this week, features Gavin Burden from Salisbury in England.

So let’s get to Episode 37 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

This episode of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast is hosted by the Director of Eligibility, Dr Roger Hawkes. Roger invited Dr Prakash Jayabalan from the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago to join him and discuss the relationship that EDGA and SRAL have ben developing for more than two years. In this episode they discuss some of the areas which EDGA has invited the collaboration of SRAL, and together explain how our joint efforts are opening new opportunities in golf for the disabled.

We also have a short teaser of the upcoming Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which this week, features Mark Smith from England.

So let’s get to Episode 36 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Following last weeks EDGA Board meeting, this edition of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast, gives an insight into two of the pillars that underpin all the discussions and the work, done by the six executive teams that lead EDGA.

We also have a short teaser of the upcoming Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which this week, features Mariano Tubio from Argentina.

So let’s get to Episode 35 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

This edition of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast is brought to you by the Tournament Team, with Manon Eggermont, Peter Fisher and Rob Moss. In this episode they discuss the EGA European Championship for golfers with Disability, along with entries for the pairs event scheduled for Montado just south of Lisbon. Portugal and Algarve Open.

As always we have a short teaser of the upcoming Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which this week, features Andy Stevenson from England.

So let’s get to Episode 34 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

This edition of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast is brought to you by the Golf Development Team, with Aimi Bullock and Mark Taylor chatting about women's golf.

As always we have a short teaser of the upcoming Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which this week features Kirsty Wilkinson from Australia.

So let’s get to Episode 33 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

This edition of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast, goes down under. In fact to Melbourne Australia and our National Federation Member Golf Australia. Christian Hamilton is the Senior Manager for programmes and inclusion at Golf Australia and a member of the EDGA Board of Directors.

As always we have a short teaser of the upcoming Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which this week features Tommaso Perrino from Italy.

So let’s get to Episode 32 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Episode 31 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast is the 21st Birthday edition. EDGA came of age on the 4th of March, 21 years since its formation in 2000. In this episode, we hear from players and officials who have stories from the early years and perspectives on where golf for the disabled is now.

As always, we play a short clip from this week's Player Profile, which features Manuel de Los Santos from The Dominican Republic. I have had the privilege to get to know Manuel and his wife Elena over the last ten years or so. In the interview for this story, we reached into areas that Manuel has never before discussed in public.

So let's get to Episode 31 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Episode 30 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast is hosted by the Director of EDGA’s Eligibility Team, Dr Roger Hawkes together with Mark Smith senior member of the EDGA Core Eligibility Team.

In this episode, Roger and Mark discuss the direction of travel for EDGA player eligibility, outline some of the recent changes and explain how inclusion whilst retaining a level playing field is the Holy Grail of eligibility.

As always we play a short clip from this week's Player Profile, which features Masato Koyamada from Japan.

So let's get to Episode 30 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Episode 29 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast is hosted by the Director of our Development Team Aimi Bullock and EDGA's Head of Development Mark Taylor. 

In this episode, Aimi and Mark discuss some EDGA development initiatives. There is a short recap of discussions that took place at the PGA show in Orlando (virtually of course), and mention some of the work we are doing to grow the number of women who are part of the EDGA family.

As always we play a short clip from this week's Player Profile, Chad Pfeifer's from the United States of America.

So let's get to Episode 29 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Episode 28 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast is hosted by the Director of our Tournament Team Manon Eggermont, together with her team members Rob Moss and Peter Fisher.

Manon explains where we are with the 2021 tournament schedule, Rob talks about an open invitation event which will take place at the Montado Golf Resort in Portugal, and Peter takes the listeners through some updates to the Modifications of the Rules and local Rules.

As always we play a short clip from this week’s Player Profile, where you will hear the story of Christian Nachtwey from Germany.

So let’s get to Episode 28 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Although the Christmas and New Year holiday period was likely very different than usual, I hope that it was still special for you and yours. All of us at EDGA wish you a healthy, happy and successful 2021.

After the break, we are getting back into the swing of things. For many, with New Years Resolutions to pursue, the change of year is an opportunity to move up a gear. I caught up with our head of development Mark Taylor and asked him what purposeful steps we could take in January to up our games.

As always we play a short clip from this week’s PING Profile. You will hear a much slicker production in this, the first episode of 2021 which features the ever-popular Ale Donati from Italy.

So let’s get to Episode 27 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Well as the clock nears its time to click over from 2020 to 2021 this is the last episode of this years EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

In this episode we hear from three of EDGAs departments, Roger Hawkes Director of Eligibility, Manon Eggermont Director of Tournaments and Mark Taylor, who Heads up Development.

We pay our respects to Peter Köhler, from the eligibility team who has sadly passed away.

And as always we play a short clip from this week’s PING Profile which unusually is not of a player, but rather features Kate Pollard, the mum of Australian golfer Cameron Pollard.

So let's get to Episode 26 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

In this weeks episode we give you an update on the progress made in the Ukraine as part of EDGA’s 8 step development programme.

We announce and welcome our latest member federation, The Slovak Golf Association.

And as always we play a short clip from this week’s PING Profile which features Terry Kirby from England.

So let’s get to Episode 24 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

This episode of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast drops on the day of the EDGA General Assembly. So in this weeks episode we some of the topics which we think will be of interest to the wider listeners.

EDGA Ambassador Nick Dougherty runs an Instagram Live session.

And as always we play a short clip from this week’s PING Profile which features Tony Coates from Australia.

So let’s get to Episode 23 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

In this weeks episode, we give a short report from France where international golf for the disabled was back in Europe.

We have further announcements about the Mulligan film.

We publish the dates for the 2021 EGA European Championship.

And as always we play a short clip from this week’s PING Profile which features former amateur Jockey Nicky Weeks from England.

So let’s get to Episode 22 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

In this weeks episode, we have just three stories but each, even in isolation is worthy of digging into.

We announce that MULLIGAN the film has finally made it to TV.

We preview the upcoming EDGA Annual Assembly.

And as always we play a short clip from this week’s PING Profile which features James Gribble from Australia.

So let’s get to Episode 21 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Yet another busy week in the life of EDGA, with lots of news across the three strategic pillars of raising awareness, participation and competition.

In this episode, you will hear about the first of several short videos that are being launched ahead of the full MULLIGAN film.

We will reveal exactly where we are with the HOW I PLAY series and give a snippet of the Mike Rolls session.

We have the latest update on the EDGA Algarve Open. 

As always we play a short clip from this week’s PING Profile which features Ellie Perks from England.

And you will hear from a listener about her listening experience of the podcast.

So let’s get to Episode 20 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

One of the most recognisable formats in golf is that of the four-ball. EDGA is proud that our very own four-ball of Ambassadors is now complete, with the announcement of Former European Tour player and now Sky Sports presenter Nick Dougherty.

In this episode, you will hear that EDGA has agreed on the distribution of our film MULLIGAN which builds on last years launch of the book of the same title.

Just when we thought there was some clarity on travel restrictions and air bridges, the governments of various countries are changing their policies. We had intended to make a decision on two events in Portugal on the 15th of September, but we will delay by one day as the Portuguese government are due to provide an update on the regulations on the 15th. We will take these into consideration before announcing our position on the Algarve events.

As always we play a short clip from this week’s PING Profile which features Tony Lloyd from England.

So let’s get to Episode 19 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Brendan Lawlor, the current number four in the gross world ranking for golfers with a disability, will tee it up at the ISPS Handa UK Championship on the European Tour. The venue is the iconic Belfry, which has been the host of four Ryder Cups. As the recipient of a sponsors invitation, the popular Irishman is keen to get started, and looks forward to a great experience.

Although not quite the start to the season that EDGA Ambassador Carly Booth would have liked, she is just about to start the defence of The Tipsport Czech Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour which she won in 2019. Please join me in wishing both players the very best of luck as they follow their dreams.

In this episode you will hear about a recent visit to Norway by EDGA’s Head of Development, Mark Taylor.

And as always we play a short clip from this weeks PING Profile which features Gail Owen from England.

So let’s get to Episode 18 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.