The EDGA development team were delighted to visit Costa Terra and Cercigrândola in February 2023.
The outstanding Costa Terra Golf has been supporting their local Cercigrândola rehabilitation centre by improving the outdoor areas, providing new furniture, and even installing a multi-use artificial grass area. It was on that area where the EDGA team of PGA Fellow Professional Mark Taylor and the EDGA lead facilitator in Portugal, Mario Rui Rosa, were able to train the therapists and staff before delivering a sampling session for seven new players with intellectual/neurodevelopmental disabilities. Costa Terra has committed to helping participants at the rehabilitation centre to sample golf at their town centre location and subsequently at the golf course.
On the first day, EDGA trained ten members of the Costa Terra team, including three PGA Professionals. The objective was to ensure that the staff could provide a wonderful experience for golfers with disability. Mark delivered the EDGA D3 (Development 3) training and demonstrated several simulations of impairments, including physical, sensory, and intellectual disabilities.
Starting golf in a fun and social learning environment is vital. Developing skills that can transfer from the initial sampling session to a deeper level of involvement as a participant or competitor is the difference between programmes that get people started and help people engage or thrive in the sport. The newly trained golf operations team are delighted to provide these opportunities in the local community through Cercigrândola. The EDGA team donated a Golfway equipment starter pack so that the students can now receive regular golf sessions on site and with follow-up opportunities at the Costa Terra golf facility. EDGA’s national development team member for Portugal, Mario Rui Rosa, will support the delivery of the outreach programme while helping to develop a pathway for participants to access regular golf experiences.
EDGA’s reach extends to 38 countries and is all about changing lives through the power of golf. EDGA President Dr Tony Bennett said, “The vision of Costa Terra is quite extraordinary, and to provide opportunities for the students of the Cercigrândola Rehabilitation Centre to try golf is something that more golf clubs can learn from. Whether a single enjoyable experience or a lifelong involvement in golf is immaterial; in either case, the recipient’s day is just a little better. Indeed, I saw some beaming smiles from the students and staff at Cercigrândola after three of the newly trained staff delivered their first in-house D3 golf session.”