Across the WPG region, six special needs schools are part of the First Swing Program with PGA coach Lize Marie Prinsloo. Through structured and supportive golf sessions, learners build confidence, coordination, focus, and independence in environments that complement their educational and therapeutic goals.

While each school experiences the program in its own way, the impact is consistent. Learners feel included, capable, and proud of what they achieve on the golf course, and teachers often notice the benefits carrying back into the classroom.

Here is what the schools have shared about their experience with the First Swing Program.

Lize Marie Prinsloo | First Swing Program Coach – WPG

Working across six schools in the WPG region, Lize Marie Prinsloo sees how the First Swing Program creates a structured and supportive environment where learners with disabilities can feel capable and included. Through adaptive coaching and consistent routines, learners develop confidence, coordination, and focus, while teachers often report that they return to school calmer and more settled after sessions.

Astra School

Astra School has shared a long-standing relationship with SADGA, with learners enjoying regular golf sessions that teach structure and skill development through play. The school values the consistency of the program over many years and the joy it brings to learners who look forward to each session.

Learners from Astra School recently had the opportunity to take part in the CIRCA Cape Town Open at Royal Cape Golf Club, where they played adaptive golf alongside the professionals. Experiences like this allow learners to feel included in the broader golfing community while building confidence in a new environment.

Dominican School for Deaf Children

At Dominican School, the First Swing Program has helped learners grow not only in skill but in character. Staff have seen learners develop teamwork, discipline, and pride, with many taking on leadership roles at school and carrying the values of the program back into daily life.

Eros School

Eros School highlights how the First Swing Program gives learners access to experiences they may not otherwise have, including the calm and tranquil environment of the golf course. Alongside physical benefits such as improved balance and coordination, the school has seen increased confidence, peer interaction, and a stronger sense of inclusion through weekly participation.

Filia School

Filia School values the program for the way it supports inclusivity and social development among learners with different abilities. Through golf, learners improve communication skills, confidence, self-esteem, and their ability to interact positively with peers and coaches in a supportive setting.

Mary Kihn School for Hearing-Impaired Children

Mary Kihn School describes the First Swing Program as far more than golf instruction, noting its strong educational and therapeutic value. Learners benefit from the rhythmic, structured nature of the game and often return to class calmer and better able to concentrate. The program supports confidence, independence, and overall wellbeing in a way that aligns with the school’s holistic development goals.

Tembaletu School

Tembaletu School has seen meaningful growth in learners through the First Swing Program, including improved confidence, self-belief, and physical development such as strength, balance, and coordination. The school also values the supportive coaching environment and the pride learners feel through participation, with positive effects extending beyond the golf course and into daily school life.

The experiences shared by these schools reflect what the First Swing Program continues to achieve across the Western Province — creating spaces where learners with disabilities can grow in confidence, focus, and independence through golf.

SADGA would like to thank Western Province Golf (WPG), the King David Sports Trust, and King David Mowbray Golf Club for their ongoing support of the First Swing Program in this region. Their contribution helps create consistent opportunities for learners to experience golf in a structured, welcoming, and inclusive environment.