Trained RSM UK volunteers gave local people with a range of disabilities the experience of hitting some of their first golf shots during The Open at Royal Troon, just yards from where the game’s greatest players were in competition.
EDGA, the acknowledged international authority on G4D (golf for the disabled), is supporting a variety of community health groups to try golf around the UK, and has trained 70 RSM UK staff in Liverpool, London, Birmingham and Glasgow primarily to assist new golf ‘samplers’ in a wide variety of non-traditional golf settings.
The leading audit, tax and consulting firm has recognised the important role it can play in this sport in inspiring change, with inclusion and diversity at the heart of a culture helping the firm to engage successfully with its local communities.
Volunteers Scott Miller and Conor Rea invited along participants from the Glasgow Disabled Scouts, Enable Scotland, plus contacts through the Duke of Edinburgh Award, to enjoy a golf experience in The R&A SwingZone. This area adjoining the 15th fairway and operated by The R&A, The PGA, Scottish Golf and the Golf Foundation proved very popular throughout the week.
A group of keen new samplers were also present courtesy of the team at The R&A’s inclusive and innovative golf centre GolfIt! A number of those present then watched leading world golfers including Tiger Woods and the winner Xander Schauffele on the Royal Troon links.
First, they played Golfway games in the Golf Foundation area and chipping and putting games.
Ellie, aged 19, who is a talented tennis player and plays from a wheelchair to a high standard, received her first golf coaching experience from EDGA’s Head of Instruction and Education Mark Taylor, a PGA Fellow Professional.
Ellie said of her session: “It has made a big difference to know how to position myself to turn and make a good swing, and I didn’t know I could swing one handed, which I can! Mark has given me lots of confidence and I’m keen to have another go soon.”
Watched by his father Alan, young Andrew said: “I haven’t played before really and it was very interesting, and all the games were good. The Open has been exciting for us.”
Mark Taylor had personally trained many of the RSM volunteers, including Scott and Conor, supported by EDGA Director of Women’s Golf Aimi Bullock. Mark said: “RSM deserve massive praise for going the extra mile in having their team members trained in this way. Volunteering roles in this context can have a huge positive impact: introducing new people with a disability – some who may be a little nervous at first about what to expect – to try a new game in a fun, safe environment within their community before choosing how far they wish to take their golf on the player pathway, ie, as ‘sampler’, ‘participant’ or ‘competitor’.”
The two Edinburgh-based RSM team members encouraged the new young samplers by first explaining what the session was going to comprise of, preparing them to hit some shots and guiding them in the game’s fundamentals including aiming, stance and grip and the basic elements of a swing.
Mark added: “So good have Conor and Scott been in their training and early experience in leading groups that I was totally confident to let them lead the sessions at The Open and we were delighted with the results. Support from The R&A, the Golf Foundation, The PGA and Scottish Golf made everyone feel welcome and special thanks to GolfIt!’s Golf Operations Supervisor Barry McCluskey and Alyson McKechin, Head of Golf, for their expertise and enthusiasm.”
Conor Rea, Audit Supervisor at RSM UK, said: “Our training received from Mark a couple of years ago prepared us to deliver first-touch golf activity and this session at Royal Troon was the sixth we have led together. Overall, it has been hugely rewarding for us to bring this opportunity and programme to different community groups in Scotland and show how accessible golf can be to those with an impairment.”
Scott Miller, Audit Supervisor at RSM UK, added: “Together with EDGA, we are now in the process of looking at next steps to expand the programme both engaging with more organisations to run sessions and developing a wider pool of trained RSM volunteers to help run them. This will not only build on the fantastic relationship already developed between RSM and EDGA, but it will also allow us to reach more individuals and groups with an impairment or disability to try golf at the grassroots level.”
EDGA is looking to encourage 500,000 new people into the game through its player pathway programme. A strong volunteer model can be beneficial throughout this pathway and can be particularly valuable in ‘first-touch’ golf experiences, using EDGA’s ‘D3’ format which is approved by The R&A.
Golf Foundation Head of Development Martin Crowder said: “Our team is passionate about making golf a fun, inclusive and inspiring game for youngsters of all abilities and we were delighted to support the EDGA team who are doing so much to open up the game for all. These community groups could enjoy a priceless first experience of learning golf by having fun before soaking up all the atmosphere of The Open, thanks to all the support of The R&A.”