Charles Williams to pit his skills against the world’s best golfers

 
Johannesburg, South Africa. March 2017 – Charles Williams, undeniably the best deaf junior golfer in South Africa, boasting a handicap of 7, will compete in his third Canon South African Disabled Golf Open in May this year. The 23 year old, who rose through the South African Disabled Golf Association’s First Swing Golf programme, is excited about competing in the tournament which attracts some of the world top golfers with disabilities.
Many talented international golfers have already confirmed their participation in the 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open. Amongst these are Bob MacDermott (Canada); Martin Williams (United Kingdom); Shaun Bakker (United Kingdom); George Mecs (France) and Cian Arthurs (Ireland). The event, now sponsored by Canon South Africa, takes place in Cape Town from the 15th to the 17th of May 2017.
Williams was born hearing but contracted meningitis when he was one which left him deaf. He started playing golf at a young age as a learner at the De Le Bat School and College for the deaf in Worcester. During his college years, Williams helped the Boland coach (who is now a patron of SADGA, Oom Kulk Martinus) with the deaf golfers at De La Bat.
He proved to be so good with the children that since he moved back to Cape Town in January this year, he has been coaching golf at schools for the deaf and persons with disabilities. The King David Mowbray Development (KDM) Coaches were so impressed with his coaching that he was asked to coach able bodied kids of the KDM programme. Williams is also the leader of the First Swing programme’s Elite Group.
A valued member of the SADGA team, Williams goes into the SADGA Cape Town office every day and coaches the Noluthando, Eros , Thembalethu, Filia and Dominican children. His other duties are as an interpreter at SADGA and he also helps with SADGA office admin.
According to Reinard Schuhknecht, Brand Ambassador for the 2017 Canon South African Disabled Golf Open, SADGA has also started training Williams to become a PGA coach and so far his marks have been outstanding. The plans are to also train him as the First Swing Programme Deaf Brand Ambassador.
“Willaims made the SA team to travel to the Deaf Golf World Championships last year. Unfortunately the team could not get funding to attend the tournament so he didn’t manage to go. The Canon South African Disabled Golf Open is therefore a great opportunity for Williams to show off his golfing prowess and pit his skills against some of the best in the world,” says Schuhknecht.
The Canon South African Disabled Golf Open, has at its heart the goal to inspire and unite players, as well as acknowledge their achievements. South Africans have historically dominated the tournament, with Ben van Zyl winning the event from 1998 to 2003; Pieter Jansen in 2004; Nico Wentzel in 2008; Iglin Grobbelaar in 2009 and 2010; and Daniel Slabbert from 2011 to 2013, and again in 2015.
Canon South Africa, which has been a proud sponsor of SADGA for many years, has proudly taken the reigns as the official sponsor of the South African Disabled Golf Open for 2017.
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SADGA Media Liaison – The Write Word Sports Media Consultants
Lali Stander
t. +27 (0)82 990 7150
EMAIL: lalistander@gmail.com
SADGA Tournament Director
Lily Reich
t. + 27 (0)82 888 9888
lily@sadga.co.za
Canon South Africa
Dana Eitzen
t. +27 (0)12 675 4900
e. pr@canon.co.za
PR Agency – Mail Room PR
Azelle Evans
t. +27 (082) 851 0090
e. azelle@themailroom.co.za
Charles Williams
Canon South Africa
City of Cape Town
Lali Stander