All golfers start as samplers – someone experiencing golf for the first time. Introducers/Coaches of samplers must be suitably prepared to ensure that golfers with disabilities have a fun, inclusive, challenging and valuable experience that helps them appreciate the health and social benefits of the game.
Some of these samplers will become participants, that is, someone who has decided that golf is a game for them. Perhaps they will be independent/nomadic golfers or members of a club, but either way, they will enjoy playing golf regularly at facilities that are accessible and where services, environments, and attitudes are conducive to supporting the full and quality participation of golfers with disabilities.
Finally, some players want to express their competitive urge in golf. These players are committed to improvement and to testing themselves along the competitive pathway either in G4D, mainstream golf or both. Players with governmentally recognised disabilities can gain a pass to compete in G4D.
For those that have an International Paralympic Committee Eligible Impairment and that meet the minimum impairment criteria they can compete in over 120 annual ranking tournaments around the world to earn World Ranking points (WR4GD) that open access to events with all of golf’s leading organisations, such as, The R&A G4D Open, the US Adaptive Open, The G4D Tour which has events on both the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour.
The G4D player pathway created by EDGA offers a sport and a platform for personal growth and achievement.