The South African Disabled Golf Association is pleased to announce that the National Federation umbrella body, GolfRSA has been made a member of the EDGA (formally the European Disabled Golf Association).
The announcement comes on the back of a unanimous endorsement from all the EDGA member nations. SADGA Operations manager Lily Reich remarked that the Association’s affiliation is a tremendous privilege.
“We couldn’t be more excited about our affiliation with the European Disabled Golf Association. The impact that the EDGA has had on the growth of disabled golf has been remarkable to watch over the years and we are looking forward to being associated with one of the true pioneers of disabled golf,” says Reich. “This truly is a watershed moment for South African disabled golf and comes a short while after the announcement of the world disabled golf rankings system which is testament to the great place that disabled golf is in at present.”
GolfRSA CEO Grant Hepburn echoed Reich’s sentiments and spoke of the increased exposure that South African disabled golfers will receive as a result.
“The South African Disabled Golf Association has risen in stature over the last few years and it is fantastic to see that the great work of the Association has been duly recognised,” commented Hepburn. Furthermore, SADGA’s EDGA affiliation will afford our top golfers the opportunity to showcase their talent more frequently on the international stage.”
Tony Bennett, President of EDGA described the membership of GolfRSA as being “a huge step for golfers with disability on the continent.”
Bennett himself a former Sunshine Tour member said, “For decades South Africa has produced some of the leading players on the professional tours around the world, and the passion that the population of South Africa has for sport is clear to see in the many sports in which it excels. I personally have been aware of SADGA for ten years and to see the work they have done, and to feel the passion they have for helping people with disability to get involved in golf can only be admired. We see all our members as being partners, and as such we look forward to working with GolfRSA and SADGA to ensure that more and more people can start, stay, succeed and enjoy golf”.
GolfRSA’s membership of the EDGA is made even more significant in light of the announcement of the Disabled Golf World Rankings system. South Africa’s premier disabled golf event, the Canon SA Disabled Golf Open will now award World Ranking points to its participants. This is sure to raise the profile of the event on the international stage and with marquee players such as defending champion Mike Browne (pictured above) and Australia’s Geoff Nicholas among the early commitments, all signs point to 2019 being one of the strongest fields in tournament history.
SADGA www.sadga.co.za