The European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) is about to launch its ‘Tournament Series 2016’ of eleven events in Europe which are staged for competitive golfers with disabilities.
The first event of the year is the EDGA Penina Open 2016, in Portugal (April 15-17), and during the summer ahead championships will take place in Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Portugal, Scotland, Spain and Sweden.
This is EDGA’s most competitive tournament structure yet, testing Europe’s finest players, while all the time offering increasing playing opportunities for golfers across the disability spectrum (in 2013 there were just four tournaments staged).
Supported by The R&A, The European Tour, and a number of European Tour players (notably EDGA Ambassador Lee Westwood) the European Disabled Golf Association is an organisation that is developing quickly, now backed by 17 national golf federations across Europe. Key to its objectives are to forge closer links with the International Golf Federation (IGF) and influence the Olympic and Paralympic bodies so that elite golfers with a disability are able to take their golf to the very highest international level.
EDGA believes that while 2016 will present even more opportunities for competing players, this season offers “perfect timing” for forward-thinking companies and organisations who wish to support one of golf’s emerging and much talked-about international playing tours.
EDGA President Tony Bennett said: “We feel that because of the genuinely exciting ‘Tour-feel’ of the events for 2016, the evolution of the ‘Ranking’ which is now open to players across the world, plus the progressive research and development work of our Medical Committee which can set golf on the way to becoming a valued Paralympic sport, this is all something that may be of genuine interest to prospective partners from the business world. Helping us to grow at this time can be part of a significant and progressive story for the right partner.
The Algarve Tourist Association became EDGA’s first Corporate Partner in 2015 and this relationship has thrived, with a highly successful EDGA Conference being held in The Algarve last November. The EDGA team has recently been having positive discussions with some of golf’s finest brands and it is hoped that there will be further good news on partnership activity soon.
Tony added: “EDGA golfers are also forming a very strong playing and social community across Europe and this is an area of development which is proving highly exciting for all involved. There is the vibe of an international family of serious golfers, and it’s a big family! We believe this may be perfect timing for potential partners to begin a dialogue with EDGA to help grow the Tournament Series further and EDGA itself as an over-arching organisation which promotes high quality disability sport and research.”
With the slogan ‘Golfers First’, EDGA is an organisation which was set up to help individuals with impairment to start, stay, succeed and enjoy golf and which now provides advice and guidance for organisations on tournaments, training and services to golfers with disability. EDGA welcomes elite and developing players to its tournaments.
For more information on the Association visit www.edgagolf.com and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanDisabledGolfAssociation