De La Bat College graduate Charles Williams was the first learner from the South African Disabled Golf Association’s First Swing Golf Programme (FSP) to earn national colours and undoubtedly one of its success stories.
The 23-year-old from Lavender Hill in the Western Cape plays off a ten handicap and will be making his forth appearance in the Deaf Division at the Canon South African Disabled Golf Open at Magalies Park from the 13th- 18th May 2018.
Williams was just over a year old when he contracted meningitis and lost his hearing.
He was introduced to golf through the FSP while attending the De La Bat School and College for the Deaf in Worcester and, under the watchful eye of SADGA patron Kulk Martinus, the young golfer blossomed.
“I fell in love with golf and when I started college, it was the natural next step for me to give back to the programme by helping Oom Kulk out with the FSP coaching,” said Williams.
His skills with the young golfers made an impression and, at the start of 2016, Williams was relocated to Cape Town where he started coaching golf at schools for the deaf and persons with disabilities.
A valued member of the SADGA team, Williams goes into the SADGA office at King David Mowbray Golf Club every day and he coaches children from the Noluthando, Eros, Thembalethu, Filia and Dominican schools.
He also serves as an interpreter for the deaf, assists with administrative duties and is the leader of the First Swing programme’s Elite Squad.
“Charles began his PGA Teaching Diploma last year and so far he has done remarkably well,” said Reinard Schuhknecht, Brand Ambassador for SADGA. “His marks have been outstanding and we plan to also train Charles as the First Swing Programme Deaf Brand Ambassador.
Charles is especially proud of his FSP golfer Karel Mars from Dominican School, who he has been coaching since the Canon Deaf Junior FSP Interprovincial in December.Karel Mars
qualified for the Canon South Africa Disabled Golf Open 2018 and will be travelling with Charles to the tournament
“I would love to win the SA Deaf Championship this year, and a good performance at Magalies Park will give me a lot of confidence. It’s also important that I play to my best ability to show the children that I coach that they can also shoot for the stars.
We all welcome Charles Williams to the Canon South Africa Disabled Golf Open 2018