Entries open today for the 2019 English Disability Open, which is being run solely by England Golf for the first time.

The championship takes place on the Gainsborough course at Stoke by Nayland Golf Club, Essex, over the weekend of September 7-8 and will be played under the modified rules of golf for players with a disability.

Among those expected to enter are defending champion Mick Horsley, picrtured, (Marriot Breadsall Priory, Derbyshire) and the current No 1 on the World Ranking for Golfers with a Disability (WR4GD), George Groves, of Addington Palace Golf Club, Surrey.

Until now the championship has been run by England Golf in partnership with the charity Balasa Golf. Now in its fourth year, it is open to anyone with a visual, hearing or intellectual impairment, as well as players holding a European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) Access or World Rankings Pass.

Jamie Blair, Disability Manager for England Golf commented: “We want this to become an event which is about the golfing ability rather than the impairment. We’ve been working closely with EDGA to broaden the criteria and are proud that this event will be more inclusive than ever and is a national championship for golfers with a disability playing at our affiliated golf clubs and further afield.”

“As well as being open to anyone with an impairment, the event will provide points for the WR4GD rankings for qualifying players.

“We have also adopted the rules modifications in all of our England Golf championships to encourage further participation in all of the events that we run.”

Competitors will play for the overall gross prize, a handicap competition or a stableford event, depending on their golf handicap. Full terms of competition and online entry can be found on the England Golf website 

The event is free to spectate with full details of timings and live scoring to be published on the England Golf website in due course.

England Golf is one of the country’s largest sports governing bodies and looks after the interests of around 1,900 golf clubs and 651,000 men, women, boy and girl club members. We also:

  • Promote the game as being accessible, fun and family friendly
  • Inspire new golfers with our Get into Golf campaign
  • Encourage golfers to join clubs
  • Work with partners to offer business support to clubs
  • Run championships and competitions for all ages and abilities
  • Develop talented golfers, such as Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Georgia Hall and Charley Hull.

EDGA is the global body supporting the development of the game for golfers with a disability, working in partnership with The R&A, USGA and IGF alongside the national golfing federations.

WR4GD was adopted by WAGR from January 2019 following its development and implementation by EDGA since January 2017

Website: www.englandgolf.org

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