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Over the past 2 years, The Disabled Golf Society, has always looked at providing the right golf venues and planned events for our ever increasing numbers of members. We regularly seek venues on behalf of our members and visitors, that are actually “disabled friendly”. We only choose the best courses, most proficient coaches, venues which have a supply of the all important on course buggies, covered practice areas and all accessible without unnecessary steps or stairs. We estimate that less than 20% of current courses meet this standard.

Our objective therefore, is to identify these courses and hopefully persuade others to improve their facilities to accommodate us, both within the UK and beyond. So we are asking for your help once again, by providing information of golf courses/venues, that you would personally recommend. Once we have collected the information, we are looking to provide a new Disabled Golf Course Guide section on the website that will give a list of different golf courses/venues, which are disabled friendly.

We Need Your Help

Please recommend a course that you know will fit our requirements. If you know of a suitable course which may even offer special discounts to our members please complete the online form below.

The Disabled Golf Society Events List

Building on the success of 2011, we have been able to book more venues across the country for 2012.  Listed below is the 2012 schedule.

March

Monday 19th – Kingswood, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Thursday 22nd – Bird Hills, Maidenhead, Berkshire
Wednesday 28th – Abbey Hill, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

April

Monday 2nd – Peterstone Lakes Golf Club, Cardiff, South Wales
Thursday 5th – Sharply Golf Club, Seaham, County Durham
Tuesday 10th – Mardyke Valley, South Ockenden, Essex
Monday 16th – Billingbear Park, Wokingham, Berkshire
Wednesday 18th – Trent Lock, Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire
Monday 23rd – Cradoc Golf Club, Brecon, Powys, South Wales
Tuesday, 24th – Lichfield, Staffordshire
Thursday 26th – Hart Common, Wigan, Lancashire
Monday 30th – Cumberwell Park, Bradford uopn Avon, Wiltshire

May

Thursday 3rd – Leeds Golf Centre, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Thursday 10th – Stoneleigh Deer Park, Coventry, Warwickshire
Tuesday 15th – Houghwood, St Helens, Lancashire
Tuesday 15th – Wernddu Golf Club, Abergavenny, South Wales
Wednesday 16th – New Malton, Royston, Cambridgeshire
Monday 21st – Longhurst Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland
Tuesday 22nd – Foxbridge, Billingshurst, East Sussex
Tuesday 29th – Bondhay, Worksop, Nottinghamshire

June

Tuesday 5th – Alice Spring, Kemeys Commander, Usk, South Wales
Wednesday 6th – Whittlebury Park, Towcester, Northants
Thursday 7th – Boothferry Golf Club, Goole
Monday 11th – TBA, Devon
Tuesday 12th – Alnmouth Golf Club, Northumberland
Monday 18th – Sandmartins, Wokingham, Berkshire
Thursday 21st – Gortsey Hill, Crewe, Cheshire
Tuesday 26th – Horsehay Village Golf Club, Telford, Shropshire
Friday 29th – Horton Park, Epsom, Surrey

July

Monday 2nd – Hay on Wye, Herefordshire
Wednesday 4th – Norwood Park, Southwell, Nottinghamshire
Tuesday 10th – Craig Waugh Memorial Trophy, Dunston Hall, Norwich, Norfolk
Thursday 19th – Northallerton, Thirsk, North Yorkshire
Thursday 19th – Llantrisant and Pontyclun GC, Llantrisant, South Wales
Tuesday 24th – North v’s South Match play, Kilworth Springs, North Kilworth, Leicestershire
Tuesday 31st – Rother Valley, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

August

Wednesday 1st – Morlais Castle, Pant, Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales
Thursday 2nd – Lydd, Romney Marsh, Kent
Thursday 9th – Mid Yorkshire, Pontefract, East Yorkshire
Thursday 9th – Rockmount Golf Club, Carryduff, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Monday 13th- Bromsgrove, Worcstershire
Monday 20th – Houldsworth, Stockport, Cheshire/Lancs
Tuesday 21st – Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Thursday 23rd – South Cornelly, Nr Porthcawl
Tuesday 28th – Goodwood, Sussex
Thursday 30th – Beacon Park, Wigan Lancashire

September

Tuesday 4th – Bristol, Avon
Thursday 6th – Willow Valley, Brighouse, West Yorkshire
Friday 14th – Sunday 16th – Auld Enemies Cup, Midlands TBA
Thursday 20th – Ingleby Barwick, Stockton on Tees, North East
Thursday 27th – Ryde, Isle of Wight

October

Wednesday 3rd – Pedham Place Golf Centre, London Road, Swanley, Kent
Thursday 4th – Kingswood, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Friday 12th – Rhondda Golf Club, Tonypandy, South Wales

Please note these dates and venues are subject to change

To enquire about any of the events listed please contact Graeme Robertson, National events Co-ordinator on 0118 9790193 / 07932 061680 or email: robertson1963@hotmail.co.uk

The Disabled Golf Society is proud to announce that Sport England have invested their support in disabled golf. As part of their Sportsmatch Programme, the DGS, can increase its awareness, continue to grow and progress as a society. It will also help provide more facilities, events, equipment etc and to continue the good work the DGS has achieved, by encouraging more disabled people to try golf for the first time.

About Sport England

Sport England is focused on the creation of a world-leading community sport system.

We invest National Lottery and Exchequer funding in organisations and projects that will grow and sustain participation in grassroots sport and create opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport. Our structure reflects this focus

Formerly known as the English Sports Council, we work in partnership with UK Sport, which has responsibility for elite success, and the Youth Sport Trust, which is focused on PE and school sport.

Accountable to Parliament through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, we also have a role protecting sports provision as a statutory consultee on planning applications that affect playing fields.

For further information about Sport England please follow the link www.sportengland.org or contact Christopher Smith on 01666 503918

A series of 6 Taster Sessions are being held throughout Wiltshire, starting at Cumberwell Park Golf Club, Bradford Upon Avon on the 5^th July. The aim of Disabled Golf Society is to encourage people with disabilities, of any age, to try the game of golf. Each Taster Session encourages new golfers to try out the facilities and equipment supplied, with the aid of a professional coach, out on the golf course. For those in wheelchairs, a specially adapted buggies, with tilt and swivel system is available to use.

The event is running in conjunction with the generous sponsorship of the BIL Group, South West. The BIL Group South West Disabled Championship is one of a number of events that the Disabled Golf Society has organised, throughout the year, culminating at the end year with the first International Competition between England and Scotland.

Christopher Smith, who setup the Disabled Golf Society, is delighted by the response he has from previous Taster Sessions and hopes that the six new sessions will encourage people to come along and have a go. For further information click here to register or ring on 01666 503918.

(Link to Wiltshire Herald  – Taster Sessions in Wiltshire)

Photo © BBC

The Disabled Golf Society would like to pass on its condolences to friends and family of Seve Ballesteros, who passed away on the 7th May 2011. Not many people can be classed as a legend, even in their own life time, but Seve was one of them. He helped re-invigorate the European Tour and became the first European player to win the famous ‘Green Jacket’ in 1980. An inspiration to many of us in the golfing world and beyond, his passion, drive to win (five majors and 91 career wins) and sportsmanship will be missed by us all. For further reading please click here.

Majors Won
The Open Championship: 1979, 1984, 1988
Masters Tournament: 1980, 1983

Career Wins
European Tour: 50 (1st all time)
PGA Tour: 9
Japan Golf Tour: 6
Other: 31

European Tour Order of Merit winner: 1976, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1988, 1991
European Tour Player of the Year: 1986, 1988, 1991

The Disabled Golf Society are looking into the possibility of having a mobile golf simulator to encourage and promote golf to people with disabilities. Visitors would be able to enter the specially design simulator to try out the latest equipment available to disabled golfers. Fitted with the latest technology, Astro turf and a large LCD screen to give the impression of golf course, visitors would be encouraged to knock a few golf balls down a fairway and try their hand at putting.  With Disabled Golf Society staff and coaches on hand to give advise where necessary, the simulator is a great opportunity for anyone with disabilities, to try golf.

England vs Scotland International Open

The prestigious 5 star Slaley Hall Golf & Country Club, Hexham, Northumberland is to be the home of the First International Disabled Open, between Scotland and England. Organised between the Disabled Golf Society and Scottish Disabled Golf Partnership, the event will take place from the 7th – 9th October 2011 (This event includes 2 nights stay at the hotel, all food and 3 rounds on this championship golf course). More details will be available in due course, but if you would like to register your interest please click here.

The Disabled Golf Society would like to organise a Ryder Cup style competition between our American Members and U.K. Members. Nothing has  been planned yet, but we like all members from both sides of the Atlantic, to see who would be interested and to makes suggestions. If you think this would be a good opportunity to promote the world of disabled golf to a wider audience, please contact Christopher Smith on +44 (0)1666 503918 or email at enquiries@disabledgolfsociety.com

Pic by James Douglas 03/03/11. © Swindon Advertiser

Throughout March and into April 2011, the Disabled Golf Society held three free Taster Sessions, where people with disabilities were encouraged to try the game of golf, coached by experts using the specially designed golf buggies and equipment. With the first Taster Session held at Broome Manor Golf Club, Swindon, the second at Cumberwell Park Golf Club, Bradford Upon Avon and the third at East Horton Golf Centre, Hampshire, the response was overwhelming.

Each Taster Session day comprised of the new golfers having a try, out on the golf course, using the facilities supplied with the aid of a professional. For those in wheelchairs, they could take a turn in a specially adapted ‘Stand Up And Play’ buggy with its tilt and swivel system. It allowed the golfers to stop at the ball, use the controls to elevate themselves back to their real height and attempt to play their shot as if they were standing up. The day ended with refreshments and discussion about how The Disabled Golf Society can help.

Christopher Smith, who setup the Disabled Golf Society and was very pleased that so many people had come along to have go, said. “I’m delighted by the response we’ve had and I hope other people will find the same enjoyment, that I have, in playing golf. If you are disabled and want to have go, please go to our website www.disabledgolfsociety.com to register or ring on 01666 503918.”

To see more photographs of the Taster Sessions please click here and for more articles about the Taster Sessions follow the links to Swindon Advertiser and BBC Sport – Golf.

Congratulations to all those involved in the Comic Relief fundraiser at Billingbear Park, for Red Nose day. They managed to raise £181.50 on the day, with more to come from the collecting tins. Disabled players were teamed up with Seniors from the ‘Nifty Fifties’ of Bird Hills and everyone enjoyed the day. Well done everyone!

To see more photos of the Red Nose Day Event that took place on the 16th March 2011, please click here.