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Graeme Whale is a highly respected golf coach based in Gqeberha. His coaching spans professionals, amateurs, juniors and senior golfers, built on years of experience and a deep understanding of the game. Those who know him describe a coach who is thoughtful, practical and deeply committed to his players.
Alongside that work, Graeme has chosen to invest his time in golf for people with disabilities. That commitment is not recent. Graeme has supported the South African Disabled Golf Association (SADGA) since its inception more than 20 years ago and has remained closely involved as the organisation and the game have evolved.
For Graeme, the connection is also personal. As the father of a daughter with cerebral palsy, he brings a level of understanding that goes beyond coaching manuals or swing mechanics.
“I felt I could give some understanding and help to others,” he says. “I felt I could make a difference.”
That perspective has shaped his involvement with the South African Disabled Golf Association in very real, hands-on ways. Graeme has coached across SADGA programmes, worked with both junior and adult players, and was part of the first-ever SADGA Player Development Camp last year, coaching South Africa’s leading golfers with disabilities in a high-performance environment. He was also on the bag for SADGA’s youngest All Abilities Golf Tour player, James Harry Payn, at the 2025 Cape Town Disabled Open.
Pushing for Access
Coaching at Reuben Birin School hasn’t always been straightforward. Access, scheduling and competing priorities are ongoing challenges.
“Reuben Birin is typical of so many institutions of learning,” Graeme says. “Everyone thinks that what they are doing is the most important.”
Still, he keeps pushing. Because when the sessions do happen, the value is obvious. There is real talent in these schools, but it needs time, patience and repetition. Too often, people with disabilities are overlooked or sidelined, and Graeme sees golf as a way to change that, even in small but meaningful ways.
“There is so much talent in these schools,” he says. “But it’s raw talent. It needs care. It needs repetition. With us, they are encouraged and allowed to enjoy the beautiful game of golf.”
Finding Joy Where You Can
At Cheshire Homes, Graeme runs a golf programme for adults with disabilities. It has become so popular that sessions sometimes take place indoors, with a net set up in the lounge.
“Cheshire Homes is a special place,” he says. “The people that live there have little contact with the world.”
The sessions bring something different into that space. They bring energy, laughter and connection. The happiness is immediate and visible.
“The happiness we bring brightens their day,” Graeme says. “Lots of friendships have been made. Golf does bring joy.”
A Family Commitment
Graeme’s commitment to golf for people with disabilities has also become a family one. His son, Tyler Watts, has been involved in SADGA’s First Swing Program for more than a decade. Tyler ran the Gqeberha region for eight years and, after a brief step back, has now returned to oversee the programme once again.
Alongside his work with SADGA, Tyler is a caddie on the South African professional golf circuit, bringing a strong understanding of high-performance golf into his coaching. That experience filters directly into his sessions, benefiting the learners who take part in the programme.
It’s a continuation of the same values. Showing up consistently. Building trust over time. Making sure opportunities for golfers with disabilities are not only created, but sustained.
What Stays With You
When asked about a single standout moment from his time with SADGA, Graeme doesn’t point to a particular event or result.
“Not one,” he says. “Lots of stories of camaraderie. People doing their best for others.”
Over time, coaching golfers with disabilities has shifted how he views both the game and the people who play it. It has a way of recalibrating what difficulty really looks like, and what progress truly means.
“Golf is hard,” Graeme says. “Being disabled is impossible. Doing the impossible in golf is unbelievable.”
It’s a perspective he carries into every part of his coaching life, whether he’s working with professionals or beginners.
“There is nothing we can’t do with the right attitude, funding and training.”
More Than Golf
For the players Graeme works with, golf offers far more than competition or technical improvement. It becomes something to hold onto.
“A reason to live. To carry on. To fight,” he says. “Something to look forward to.”
For many, it brings structure to the week. A place to belong. A sense of purpose that extends beyond the game itself. Golf becomes the vehicle, but the destination is something much deeper.
Looking ahead, Graeme is encouraged by the progress of disabled golf in South Africa. He has seen the shift firsthand.
“It keeps improving,” he says. “Now there is a tour. Our players are competitive around the world.”
But at its core, his motivation remains unchanged.
“To give a disabled person a reason to carry on. To have a future. That excites me.”
And perhaps the part of the journey that stays with him most is the human connection.
“Sometimes finding a way to successfully communicate a move, an idea or an understanding is the best feeling in the world,” Graeme says.
“A disabled person’s happiness is very loud. They haven’t had much to cheer about. But if you have a disabled friend, it’s a forever partnership. They don’t let you go, and you don’t want them to.”
Watch Graeme Whale speak about his work with SADGA.
Connect with Graeme
For more about Graeme’s coaching work, visit his website:
https://www.graemewhalegolf.co.za/
Follow him on social media: @graemewhalegolf
