The EDGA GOLFERS FIRST PODCAST Episode 64

EDGA GOLFERS FIRST PODCAST

Welcome to this edition of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast. This week fresh off the back of two tournaments, the USGA Adaptive Open in Pinehurst, The RSM Gross series event at Rockliffe Hall and the much-anticipated Golf and Health Congress in Edinburgh, and as always, a sneak preview of this week’s Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast which features Jennifer Sraga from Germany.

The United States Golf Association Adaptive Open took place at Pinehurst number 6 in North Carolina. The 54 holes tournament was played out in the steaming heat of the North Carolina Summer, where high humidity levels are typical. The event, for which no expense was spared, was contested by 96 players in various impairment categories. The USGA created winners in each of the eight impairment categories, as defined by the USGA, in both male and female divisions. The overall champions were Simon Lee of South Korea won a playoff against Sweden’s Felix Norrman in the men’s section, and Kim Moore took the trophy in the women’s section.

There is little doubt that the impressive inaugural event will become a sought-after event in years to come and has changed how golf for the disabled is perceived in the United States.

Rockliffe Hall Golf Course near Darlington was the venue for the latest RSM Gross Series event and the RSM Charity Day. Teams of four took part on the practice day, with EDGA players leading teams that included RSM staff and guests in a team format event. The course at Rockliffe was running well due to the dry weather conditions that had persisted for weeks. According to the players, the course was in good condition and a strong test for the players who competed over the next two days in the gross, net and Stableford divisions. The Stableford winner was Rich White, with 61 points over the two rounds. Rich was fresh from having attended the 150th Open Championship as a spectator and took inspiration from the players competing at St Andrews. In the net division, Edward Mason from Buckinghamshire took the honours with two net scores of 74 for a total of 148. The gross section winner was the inform Bradley Smith with scores of 71 and 70 for a two-round total of minus three, to take the second EDGA Gross series win of the year. Bradley’s good scoring has seen him enter and race to 9th place in the latest ranking.

The 2nd International Congress on Golf and Health took place on the 18 and 19 of July 2022 in Edinburgh. The 2022 edition took place in Scotland, the Home of Golf, highlighting its players' wide range of health benefits. EDGAs Dr Roger Hawkes led a Golf session for the Disabled, and the attentive audience included Fiona Bull from the World Health Organisation, Marree Todd from the Scottish Government, Debbie Palmer from the IOC, and representatives from The R&A, DP World Tour and FIFA. The session illuminated the audience with why golf is such a good game for people with a variety of impairments and promoted a more holistic view of why G4D has the power to change lives and the game for the better.