New accessible golf sessions for participants with disabilities at St Andrews Links Trust
St Andrews Links Trust in Fife, Scotland, is driving its mission to widen participation in golf by hosting free sessions tailored to those with a disability.
The Trust will be running disability golf coaching sessions at its Golf Academy this month and in April, as part of Scottish Golf’s new Community Disability Hub Programme.
Five venues across Scotland are hosting the programme’s inclusive sessions, which are open to individuals who have a physical, sensory, or learning disability, no matter their circumstances or golfing experience. The Trust is the only location in Fife to be taking part.
This initiative feeds into the Trust’s wider objective of widening access to golf, so that anyone who wants to try golf for the first time or develop their skills further can do so.
It comes after the Trust hosted the 30th Phoenix Cup on the Old Course, New Course and Jubilee Course in October 2024. The Phoenix Cup is played by disabled golfers from around Europe and the United States. It is the only fully inclusive amateur match play team golf event in the world, inspired by the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup.
The Community Disability Hub Programme offers safe, engaging and fun sessions, with club volunteers, Community Golf Instructors and Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) professionals on hand to tailor lessons to suit individuals’ abilities.
Four sessions will take place at St Andrews Links Academy, from Saturday 22 March until Saturday 26 April.
Paul Ellison, disability golfer and caddie manager at St Andrews Links Trust, said: “Golf is one of the most incredible and enriching sports to play, but those with a disability face unique challenges and hurdles. Having tailored sessions that allow people to feel comfortable on the course and develop their swing is a fantastic and unique opportunity.
“This will make a real difference to a lot of people that otherwise might struggle to participate in golf.”
David Watt, golf academy operations manager at St Andrews Links Golf Academy, said: “One of the Trust’s core missions is to widen participation in golf. This means we have to think carefully about every aspect of the facilities we provide to ensure we are inclusive and welcoming for all.
“Holding accessible coaching sessions at our Golf Academy, in partnership with Scottish Golf’s Community Disability Hub Programme, illustrates our commitment to this mission. We want to reduce the barriers that prevent people from playing golf, and our Golf Academy is a safe, relaxed environment to take this further.”
Alan Oliver, equality, diversity and inclusion manager at Scottish Golf, added: “Scottish Golf are delighted to be working collaboratively with St Andrews Links Trust to deliver community disability opportunities for those who are starting out within the sport and want to find their feet or for emerging golfer’s looking for a space to develop and thrive in a safe environment.
“We’re confident that the Trust shares the same core values of our disability hub programme and will help to make this a positive, sustainable initiative. Golf is an accessible sport with the potential to welcome all in an engaging environment whilst making friendships along the way, and we would encourage anyone to get involved.”
