Derbyshire Golf Helping Making Sport Accessible to All

Derbyshire Golf is supporting several projects which have provided coaching opportunities across Derbyshire for people with disabilities.

The projects delivered by James Whatley  and Aaron Holtom of East Midlands Golf Academy at Morley Hayes GC and Craig Pollard at Tapton Park GC supported financially by funding from England Golf’s Innovation Fund and the Derbyshire Golf disability programme.

Aaron Holtom delivered several sessions for the Royal School for the Deaf on the Driving Range at Morley Hayes, which introduced more than 12 people to golf.

Craig Pollard delivered sessions at Tapton Park Golf Club for adults with learning difficulties. In all 10 individuals attended coaching, which covered long game, short game and putting. All will complete the coaching with a few holes on the short course at Tapton.

James Whatley delivered sessions at Morley Hayes for students with learning disabilities form Derby College. These sessions have been a great success and have seen the students continue to visit Morley Hayes beyond the structured coaching sessions so they can develop their golfing skills further.

Samantha Pratt, from Derby College, commented:  “This has given the students something to look forward to each week. James has given them all a basic knowledge of golf but most of all kept it fun at all times. It is an opportunity which the college, students and parents are most appreciative of.”

James Whatley, from EMGA, said:  “This has by far been the most rewarding coaching I’ve done in my 12 years as a professional. The student’s enthusiasm is fantastic and they are always smiling. We are already putting dates in the diary for further sessions in September.”

Nigel Furniss, Development Officer for the Derbyshire Golf Partnership, said: “Derbyshire Golf is committed to supporting projects that create opportunities for people with disabilities to experience golf. The coaches who have been involved in these projects have been extremely supportive of our drive to encourage the development of disability golf in Derbyshire. We will be supporting several more projects of this nature as we progress throughout 2014.”