Disability Awareness Month In Full Swing

 
Disability Awareness month is off to a fast start with a number of exciting events having already taken place.
 
Canon Open Series Conclusion
 
Most notably, we had a thrilling end to the Canon Open Series. The Canon Gauteng Disabled Open took place on the 6th and 7th of November at Zwartkop Country Club. By virtue of winning his third event of the Canon Open Series, leg-amputee Robin Singh claimed the Canon Open Series Physically-Disabled Strokeplay title.
 
The inaugural Canon Open Series – a resounding success – came to an end with the Canon Open Series Champion of Champions at Zwartkop Country Club on the 9th and 10th of November. The Deaf Strokeplay division went down to the wire with Charles Williams prevailing over Cedric Touzard in a sudden-death playoff.  
 
Yolandi Magatye meanwhile earned a hard-fought two-point victory over Leon Strydom to capture the Canon Open Series Physically-Disabled Stableford champion. Shanon van der Berg meanwhile stormed to the Canon Open Series Deaf Stableford title. 
 
Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation
 
It’s been a year and a half in the making but the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation Coaches Seminar series is finally underway. The seminar – led by EDGA Head of Development Mark Taylor – is aimed at introducing disabled individuals to the game of golf while also equipping SADGA’s PGA professionals with the skills necessary to coach golfers with a variety of disabilities.
 
The seminar series began at Zwartkop Country Club and will be repeated at King David Mowbray Golf Club before concluding at Mount Edgecombe Country Club.
 
 
Regional Days
 
Regional Days – the competitive staple for our golfers – will be another great element of Disability Awareness Month. The Western Cape Regional Day took place at Metropolitan Golf Club while there are Regional Days in Gauteng and Kwazulu-Natal scheduled for later on in the month. 
 
Virtual Regional Days
 
There hasn’t been much good to come out of the Covid-19 pandemic but from a SADGA point of view, the introduction of Virtual Regional Days has certainly been a positive.
 
What makes Virtual Regional Days such a great concept is that they can be played by disabled golfers from all around the country and they have a week-long window in which to play a round with a fellow disabled golfer and by submitting their scores, they earn points towards the Race To The Challenge Cup Rankings. Since the VRD’s were first introduced, we have seen an increase in participation among our members which is awesome.
 
Still To Come…
 
Dominican School To Receive Golf Nets
 
An exciting development within the First Swing Program in the Western Cape is the upcoming installation of a golf net at Dominican School For The Deaf. There are a number of exciting players coming through the FSP at Dominican and now our golfers will be able to work on their golf swings at school which is very exciting. 
 
Our thanks to SADGA patron Dale Hayes for helping us source the net and to Western Province Golf for funding the cost of the nets. 
 
Putting Green To Be Installed At Westrand
 
Slightly further afield but an exciting prospect for the First Swing Program nevertheless is the upcoming installation of a practice putting green at Westrand School. Thank you very much to the Central Gauteng Golf Union for funding the putting green that will help our players improve that all-important area of the game. 
 
Disability Awareness Day at Randpark
 
Disability Awareness month will be capped off in the Gauteng region with the staging of Disability Awareness Day at Randpark Golf Club. This promises to be a fun day of golf and it wouldn’t be possible without the financial support of the Central Gauteng Golf Union.