Golf Inclusion Monthly - May/June 2026

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR ACCESSIBLE GOLF

GOLF

MAY/JUNE 2026 | ISSUE 40

INCLUSI N MONTHLY

INCLUSION INFLUENCERS

TOM HOUSTON

GOLFER, ADVOCATE, AND KNOWN AS THE “WRIGHT BROTHER OF ADAPTIVE GOLF”

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE ALLIANCE?

EVERY NEW GOLFER AND ACCESSIBLE FACILITY IS A VICTORY

NEW G4D MATCH BETWEEN EUROPE AND USA TO BE STAGED AT 2027 RYDER CUP

NATURAL STONE. GROUNDBREAKING SOLUTIONS.

GOLF PATHWAY MIX.

“Kafka’s support of our mission makes it possible for us to deliver education to the golf industry. We are proud to be associated with them and the commitment they have to delivering products that improve accessibility to golf facilities around the country!”

Dave Barton, PGA, Executive Director, National Alliance

Click HERE to Connect with Kafka Granite

IN THIS ISSUE MAY/JUNE 2026

A MESSAGE FROM THE ALLIANCE Executive Director, Dave Barton, PGA

ACCESS + INCLUSION

The Alliance is a leader in access and inclusion - increasing the participation of people with disabilities in the game of golf.

INCLUSION INFLUENCERS

Meet Tom Houston - Learn how Tom changed the game for golfers with lower body impairments.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE? Advocacy and the development and delivery of education and resources.

PARTNERS MAKE IT POSSIBLE

Supporting the initiatives of the Alliance.

GAIN SPOTLIGHT

More than a networking platform.

EDUCATION HUB SPOTLIGHT Learners are making the game better.

UPCOMING & PAST EVENTS

BOARD & STAFF Melissa Low, CAE President Dana Dempsey, MS, CTRS Vice President Jan Bel Jan, ASGCA Secretary Sheryl Bindelglass, CSP ICAE Treasurer Dave Barton, PGA Executive Director

Justin Apel Chava McKeel Ronnie Miles Andrew Yeast Liz Cooper, LPGA Erik Nielsen, PGA Kevin Corn, PGA Rich O’Brien Joe Trauger Mike Tinkey

A MESSAGE FROM THE ALLIANCE Welcome to our combined May-June edition of Golf Inclusion Monthly®. We combine issues in May/June as well as Nov/Dec for super secret reasons. Not really, it is just good to step back and ponder every now and then.

Tom Houston joins us for this edition’s Inclusion Influencer. Tom is a golfer, advocate for individuals with disabilities and has been referred to as the "Wright Brother of Adaptive Golf".

The US Adaptive Open is around the corner and qualifiers have begun. We’ve also posted results from recent USDGA and USAGA events.

We also share a story from overseas about a G4D Match between Europe and the USA at the 2027 Ryder Cup and a more local story from Connecticut about adaptive golf cars.

Dave Barton, PGA Executive Director

Do you have a story for Golf Inclusion Monthly®? Just reach out to us!

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WHAT WE DO Advocacy and Awareness In addition to advocating for individuals with disabilities in print and online publications as well as social media marketing and interviews, the National Alliance engages in speaking opportunities at conferences and other public events. The Alliance also hosts GAIN, an adaptive golf community networking and engagement forum.

ACCESS + INCLUSION Our mission is to increase the participation of people with disabilities in the game of golf.

The National Alliance for Accessible Golf (National Alliance) is the leader in inclusion — working to ensure the opportunity for all individuals with disabilities to play and participate in the game of golf. Formed in the summer of 2001, the National Alliance is represented by professional associations within the industries of golf, recreation and leisure, and health care providers as well as organizations that advocate for inclusion and provide services to individuals with disabilities.

Join the Adaptive Golf Community on GAIN!

Education The Alliance Education Hub provides guidance to golf course owners and operators seeking ways to make their golf courses and facilities more welcoming, accessible, and inclusive to golfers with disabilities, including programs to bring new golfers into the game.

Resources The Alliance delivers resources including ADA guidance, policy templates and more to create accessible, inclusive, and welcoming environments.

www.accessgolf.org • info@accessgolf.org • Phone: (561) 709-8002

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INCLUSION INFLUENCERS AN INTERVIEW WITH TOM HOUSTON

CLICK TO LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW. Meet Tom Houston. One day he is 40 feet high and takes a fall that changes his life.

Fast forward and he is playing golf with Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Gary Player.

Tom is a golfer, an advocate, and helped build something that changed the game.

Early Career...“I was a pipe fitter and welder by trade. I served an apprenticeship right out of high school. I worked for a large construction company in their pipe fabrication plant for about four years. Then I moved out into the field and worked my way up to become a field superintendent in charge of building things like oil refineries and chemical plants. I worked in the oil and chemical division.”

Injury (1980)...“I was on a scaffolding one day in Wheatland, Wyoming in 1980. The scaffold collapsed and I fell about 40 feet. I had a T12 spinal cord injury.It left me paralyzed from somewhere between the nipple and belly button area.”

Life After Injury / Adjustment...“Those first couple of years were just trying to get your feet back on the ground. You have to learn to dress yourself, feed yourself, get in and out of bed, get in and out of the bathtub. Everything is different. At 40 years old, Voc Rehab didn’t really know where to put somebody like me. I had experience in construction, but I wasn’t going to do that from a 50-pound push wheelchair.”

Adaptive Technology for Work, Not Golf...“So we started a small pipe fabrication business. But functionally, in a manual wheelchair, it was very difficult to operate. My hands were always busy just moving me from place to place. Then I bought a small company that built wheelchair recliners and started working on seating systems for pressure relief and tiltand-space seating.

Because of frustration with my manual chair not getting me where I needed to go, I started working on a stand-up wheelchair. The whole concept was about adapting me to the environment, because the environment was never going to adapt to a million 3

people who use wheelchairs full time. I recognized right away that was an impossible task.”

ADA Experience / Advocacy...“I spent six months in Washington in 1989 and early 1990 with Tom Harkin and Ted Kennedy testifying on Senate subcommittee hearings about the ADA. My input wasn’t just about my disability. I was also a business owner, so I understood the financial impact and the need for compromise.

It has to work for everybody, or it doesn’t work at all. If it’s one-sided, nothing works.”

First Exposure to Golf (1989)...“My kids said, ‘Come play golf with us.’ I told them they were crazy, I can’t play golf. I borrowed clubs from a neighbor and went to a nine-hole executive course. I had no idea what I was doing. I think I shot around 65 for nine holes.”

Early Course Access Issues...“The superintendent told me I had to do something about the tires because I was leaving grooves in the greens. I didn’t know anything about golf, but I agreed that wasn’t good. So I changed the rear tires to wider ones.”

Invitations to Play...“I was invited to a Pro-Am in Puerto Rico. That’s where I first started playing with tour professionals. I played with Charles Coody, Sherri Turner, and later was invited into other events tied to Royal Caribbean and charity tournaments.”

Arnold Palmer...“My name never came up in the draw, but I ended up playing with the owner of Royal Caribbean and Arnold Palmer. I had only played a few rounds of golf and didn’t know much about the rules or etiquette.

Arnold Palmer didn’t try to teach me a swing. He just watched where my club went and teed the ball up in my path so I could repeat the motion. He teed the ball up for me every day.”

Reflection on Impact (Early Stage)...“I wasn’t thinking about the impact at all. It was just a fun experience. I didn’t really understand what it meant at the time.”

Tom with Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.

Equipment Insight from Arnold Palmer...“Arnold Palmer told me I needed to figure out bigger tires on my chair because the smaller ones would leave impressions on greens. I explained that if I changed the tires, I would lose the ability to function every day in normal environments. I think in terms of trade-offs — what I gain and what I lose. Bigger tires might help golf, but they would take away my ability to function in everyday life.”

Beginning of Broader Golf Impact Work...“A lady named Marcia Bailey invited me to join her adaptive golf program. She was teaching disabled individuals to play golf, though she didn’t yet have wheelchair golfers. We ran that program by raising money because lessons were provided free of charge.She structured instruction into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels so players could progress step by step.”

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Accessibility and National Work...“We wanted to figure out what an accessible golf course would really look like — not a ‘pancake course,’ but something that actually works in the real environment. We created a group with architects, PGA professionals, superintendents, and administrators to study accessibility in golf courses.”

National Alliance for Accessible Golf...“So…the National Alliance for Accessible Golf, is formed…we're gonna form a Board of Directors. We're going to use this as education, as a clearinghouse, answer people's questions, and be here to help people move this whole program forward. So, I was part of the very beginning of the National Alliance… for the next 8 years.”

Foundational Philosophy on Inclusion...“We came up with a pretty good idea of what an accessible golf course would look like, but we weren’t sure what to do with the document. We started a national forum for accessible golf to bring everyone together and work through the issues collaboratively. This process went on for about 10 years…”

Early Industry Concerns...“Damage to my golf course, and slow play. Those were the two perceptions right away that everybody had instantly. It's gonna take all day to play, and you're gonna tear up my greens. That was the initial thing.”

Early Industry Concerns...“You know, superintendents that come charging out in their golf carts, what the hell are you doing out here? So, I'm playing golf. What does it look like I'm doing? When you have to go through that before you can ever go to the tee box… boy, it's tough.

National Forum’s Impact on the ADA...“At the end of 10 years, we got it. Got it all ready to go. So now it's got to go off to the National Access Board and out for public review. Okay, out for public review. Come back.Few changes. Okay, we can do this, this, this, back out for public review. Okay, okay, now off to the DOJ.”

So I had to go through that every time… first 10 years… everywhere.”

Personal Commitment...“Of the hundreds of people that participated over this 10 or 11 years, I was the only guy there that did all of that on my own dime. Everybody else that came there had a job, they were being paid to be there. It was something… it was important to me to do this, because of how I feel about what this thing holds for people with disabilities.”

Ambassador Philosophy / Inclusion Perspective...“I consider myself the ambassador of golf for people, especially in wheel devices. I've tried to educate people without making them angry, or leaving them with a bad taste in their mouth. I've tried to by example show people that we can play golf. We should be there playing golf.

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We are not going to tear up their golf course. We're not going to hold up their play. The next time somebody rolls in behind me, they're going to welcome them with open arms.”

Inclusion and the Social Experience...“I think what I do is expand that community. Golf has a handicap system…

I can go play with any pro and be competitive. It’s a game that works for people like ourselves. You get to share so many things… doctors, lawyers, ditch diggers, truck drivers. You get to be with people you'd otherwise never get to be around.

That’s an experience I’m sad more people don’t strive to get to. When we keep ourselves in our own group… we're missing out on that opportunity. That thought process evolved as I began to play and realize what was really happening.”

Have You Shot Your Age...“Twice. Once when I was 81, and once now when I'm 84.”

Top: Tom and Susan on the course. Bottom: Tom with Lee Trevino

Golf as Social Bridge...“Golf is that thing where everybody has the same goal in mind. All those barriers fall down… you begin to communicate and socialize.

Golf is a venue that does that while you're having a great time. Everybody there is doing the same thing… getting the ball in that little hole.

And while you're out there, all those barriers fall down.

Golf just opened that up… the comfortness to do that because I had experience at it. That really expands your horizons. I’m saddened that more people don’t strive to get that experience.”

Include Yourself...“I got a marketing video award in Hollywood from the Director’s Guild … and there were several movie stars and all that stuff here, this big gala, and several people in a wheelchair. They all had somebody with them that was pushing them around, they’d go get their meal off the high table over here for them with their backs to these hundreds of people that’s in here, standing up and having their cocktails and visiting and going around.

But they’ve got their own little group.Just subconsciously, because that’s what we do, talking to themselves about what they’re dealing with, while this whole party’s going on around them.”

Editors Note: Published Inclusion Influencer quotes may be paraphrased or abbreviated for conciseness. Be sure and listen to the full audio on YouTube!

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WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE?

By Dave Barton, PGA, Executive Director, National Alliance Simply put, we continue on as a group of like-minded individuals and organizations who know that access and inclusion in the game of golf is making progress, but plenty of work remains to be done. How do we know this? Who are our customers? What are they asking? What do they need?

Well, we don’t sell anything, so “customers” is not the best word. Let’s just say, “We serve the golf industry.” We receive a continuous flow of calls, emails, inquiries on GAIN - the Golf Access and Inclusion Network®, and questions during or after live webinars and/or in person education sessions. Why? Because people are asking and we “answer the mail”, as they said in the good ‘ol days, related to access and inclusion matters. We are able to provide the type of information, guidance, and actions that golfers AND the golf facilities they play need to know to ensure a day at the golf course is a positive experience for everyone golfers and staff.

Things change. People change. New organizations come and go. Sometimes companies “rebrand”.

Technology DEFINITELY changes. So, what’s next for the National Alliance and by the way, “an Alliance of what?”

Who is contacting us for advice and solutions?

Leading golf association staff, Leading golf association members, Allied Golf Associations, Golf facility leadership, Golf facility staff, Golfers who are having access challenges, People with disabilities who are interested in learning to play, and Family and friends of people with disabilities.

As to the second part of that question, the National Alliance is a non-member based, non-profit 501(c)(3) education, advocacy and resource center to help bring people with disabilities into the game of golf; the only such organization in the industry whose mission is completely focused on delivering information, guidance, and education related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

We do not run programs or competitions but … “Quiet Please” … accessible programs do not get created and adaptive competitions do not exist if golf facilities fail to truly understand their ADA responsibilities. That is the space we live and where real impact opportunities remain.

“Alliance” is a carry over from our early days when our organization evolved out of a series of working groups conducted in the mid-to-late 90’s to address the golf industry’s compliance with the ADA when the ADA did not initially address access “to the golf course”. The ADA addressed buildings “at” the golf facility, but not barrier free environments “on” the golf course. So, a whole bunch of like minded individuals from the golf industry, education, and some government folks convened and began to work on that to ensure the golf industry was moving in the right direction. This “Alliance” of organizations evolved into the National Alliance for Accessible Golf.

What do you think the number is out of 12,000-12,500 or so public golf courses that have it all figured out? Those numbers represent about 75% of the total US golf facility inventory with the other 25% being private. Yes, I know, the ADA does not apply to private facilities but, if the facility operates in ways that many do, the ADA might apply. That’s another story for another time.

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Our organizational charter drives us to fully focus on advocacy and the development and delivery of education and resources designed to foster an increase in the welcoming, accessible and inclusive places where people with disabilities can enter the game. That’s how you bring more people into the game.

We've also highlighted some truly inspiring Inclusion Influencers and shared resources like IRS Tax Credits for facility accessibility and the Autism 101 lesson developed with The Els for Autism Foundation. Whether it was discussing the You Can campaign or showcasing the impact of programs like Adaptive Golf Savannah and SUCCESS Golf in Texas, our focus remains on connection, education and action.

On some level, our organization is interested in the surging emphasis and focus on adaptive golf competitions. Sure, these competitions do provide a level of exposure to what is possible that can not be disputed. Who can deny the value a company or organization receives through association with these events, but what brings people into the game? More coaches, more programs, and more places where people of all ages and demographics can learn.

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to those who have shared their stories and expertise on our platforms and podcasts and to those who will do so in the future.

So, what’s next?

We will keep on plugging. Every new golfer is a victory.

Every family member who sees the joy in their loved one’s face when they hit a golf ball is a victory. Every facility that is truly accessible is a victory.

Per USGA.org, “Most rounds posted are recreational…

94.4% of the 82 million rounds posted were recreational and more than 75% of all golfers with a Handicap Index were playing and posting purely for fun.”

We are but one “hut” in the adaptive golf village that helps make these things possible and it is due to our supporters and partners, without whom, we could not serve the golf industry.

As we approach the halfway point of 2026, we are “bullish” on the industry gap we have filled for 25 years.

With committed association and industry partners, we aspire to continue to serve the golf industry until such time our phones stop ringing related to a law enacted in 1991 … a law that makes it abundantly clear about a businesses responsibility to provide access to individuals with disabilities.

Facility operators, coaches, volunteer coordinators, health care professionals and others are seeing the value of the Alliance Education Hub and although the Hub is relatively new, we have now helped educate well over 400 learners, seen over 300 hours of training and over 500 courses completed related to the ADA and the game of golf. This is making a difference at golf facilities around the country.

GAIN - the Golf Access and Inclusion Network® continues to provide a free adaptive golf community networking platform to ask or answer questions related to the ADA, where to learn, starting a program, where are the programs, and more. Join us and learn more!

Golf Inclusion Monthly® is something we certainly hope you all enjoy reading.

“We will keep on plugging. Every new golfer is a victory. Every family member who sees the joy in their loved one’s face when they hit a golf ball is a victory. Every facility that is truly accessible is a victory.”

In the last few months we launched the Adaptive Golf Hall of Fame and are overwhelmingly positive about the nominations for induction we received and the Hall of Fame's future. We look forward to announcing the first class in June of 2026 and are grateful for the participation we have on the Selection Committee from around the world.

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PARTNERS MAKE IT POSSIBLE

Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, the Alliance is the leading voice for access and inclusion in the game of golf, empowering the industry and individuals with the resources for their golf facilities, programs, and competitions to better serve people with disabilities.

ADAPTIVE GOLF HALL OF FAME

Established by the Alliance in December 2025 with the first class of inductees planned for June 2026, the Adaptive Golf Hall of Fame will serve as a signature advocacy and awareness platform for the adaptive golf community and the game of golf.

As a Founding Partner (available for a limited time), organizations will be recognized as a cornerstone supporter of this historic launch — receiving prominent brand visibility throughout the induction events, national recognition across our marketing and media platforms, and permanent acknowledgment as a founding contributor to the Hall of Fame’s legacy.

GOLF INCLUSION MONTHLY

The only digital magazine highlighting access and inclusion efforts across the country.

Distributed 10 times per year to nearly 2,000 subscribers (and growing) with expanded reach via social media impressions.

Magazine is limited to four (4) full-page advertisements per issue. Advertorials available with multi-issue commitment.

INCLUSION INFLUENCER PODCAST

Delivering unique adaptive golf related interviews with key access and inclusion influencers from across the country. The podcast is spotlighted in Golf Inclusion Monthly with mention of sponsor(s).

Episode Sponsor (1 Episode) Studio Sponsor (10 Episodes)

EDUCATION HUB + GOLF ACCESS AND INCLUSION NETWORK (GAIN)

With more than 500 course completions since its inception in 2024, 2024, the Education Hub is the leading education resource for the golf industry. Additionally, the Golf Access and Inclusion Network (GAIN) offers a free platform to foster better communication, collaboration, and engagement across the industry and community.

CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THESE INITIATIVES.

FOLLOW ACCESSGOLF.ORG

SUBSCRIBE Click HERE to subscribe to Golf Inclusion Monthly®

IMPACT GOLF INCLUSION MONTHLY® Subscribers: 1,947

EDUCATION HUB Learners: 443 Course Completions: 539 Learning Hours: 320

GAIN (GOLF ACCESS & INCLUSION NETWORK®) Active Users: 335

ADAPTIVE GOLF CAR AND PROGRAM DATABASE Programs/Facilities: 528

CONTACT Dave Barton, PGA Executive Director davebarton@accessgolf.org

Source: Southern Intrigue LLC

GAIN SPOTLIGHT

JOIN THE COMMUNITY. JOIN THE CONVERSATION. “GAIN is not simply a community networking platform, it is the top national resource and education center for the golf industry related to ADA compliance, education, and the game. Existing programs are growing and new ones are developing. But, can we say that golf facilities around the country are universally prepared? No … we can’t say that.”

Dave Barton, PGA Alliance Executive Director

MORE THAN A NETWORKING PLATFORM GAIN - the Golf Access and Inclusion Network® was established by the National Alliance for Accessible Golf to facilitate the delivery of education and resources to the golf industry related to the ADA and the game of golf. What does that mean?

People Golfers - tie into a network of golfers who have been where you may now be as you look to get into the game, and Industry Experts - learn about the ADA, or ask questions about situations you may be encountering as a player or as a facility owner or operator.

Resources Policy Templates - help your golf facility create welcoming, accessible and inclusive environments, Checklists - evaluate your golf facilities accessibility, and Guidance - learn things such as “what a private golf facility needs to know”.

GAIN is not just for communicating and networking. It is the industry entry point to becoming a better informed golfer, friend or family member, golf industry contributor, or a golf facility operator.

We look forward to seeing you!

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EDUCATION HUB SPOTLIGHT

LEARNERS ARE MAKING THE GAME BETTER With more than 500 course completions since its inception in 2024, the Alliance Education Hub is the leading education resource for the golf industry related to the ADA and the game of golf.

We are more than pleased to report that over 400 learners have completed in excess of 300 hours of training. Our valued learners across the industry, including golf facility leadership and staff, coaches, volunteer coordinators, health care professionals, and more, are making an impact in the game of golf.

Yes, there is work to be done. However, we celebrate these early milestones with you, the learners, and offer our sincerest appreciation for demonstrating your commitment and belief that golf is a game for all abilities, and for taking steps to facilitate access and inclusion.

HUB STATS

443 Enrolled Learners

539 Course Completions

320 Training Hours Completed

It’s easy to make a difference if you choose to …

The Alliance Education Hub is a FREE service available to anyone in the golf industry.

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NEW G4D MATCH BETWEEN EUROPE AND USA TO BE STAGED AT 2027 RYDER CUP

By Golf Business News | April 16, 2026

(l-r) Mick Guinee, Chairman of Ei Electronics; Patrick O'Donovan TD, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport; and Guy Kinnings, CEO of the European Tour Group (pic by GETTY IMAGES) The Presenting Partner of the match will be Ei Electronics, a global leader in the development and manufacture of home life safety solutions, which has its headquarters in Shannon.

Ei Electronics will be the presenting partner of the match, which is being co-funded by the Irish Government.

The 2027 Ryder Cup in Ireland will stage a new match between Europe and the United States, with the world’s best golfers with a disability (G4D) competing as part of the Ryder Cup’s 100th anniversary celebrations.

The new G4D Ryder Cup is the latest chapter in the European Tour group’s G4D story. The European Tour group has operated the annual G4D Open in partnership with The R&A since 2023, as well as staging G4D tournaments at DP World Tour events.

The match will take place from September 13-15 and will be staged at Ballyneety Golf Club in Limerick, the venue for the 2027 Junior Ryder Cup.

The 2027 Ryder Cup, taking place at Adare Manor in Limerick from 13-19 September, will see Ireland stage golf’s greatest team contest for only the second time after a memorable victory for Europe at the K Club in 2006.

Each team will comprise both male and female players who will play mixed foursomes on day one, mixed fourballs on day two, and a final day of singles.

Further details on the selection criteria, and the Team Captains for Europe and the USA, will be announced in due course.

The event is also being supported by the Government of Ireland and speaking about the announcement the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, 13

Patrick O’Donovan TD, said: “As Minister for Sport, I am proud that Ireland is playing a leading role in delivering this landmark event. The G4D Ryder Cup is a powerful statement of our commitment to inclusive sport and to ensuring that opportunities at the highest level are open to everyone.

“Hosting this match in Limerick, alongside the 2027 Ryder Cup, will leave a lasting legacy, not just for golf, but for disability sport across Ireland. This is about more than sport; it is about visibility, opportunity and showing young people across Ireland that there is a place for everyone in sport at every level.”

USGA Opening Ceremonies

The Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue TD, added: “The announcement of the G4D Ryder Cup for 2027 is a welcome one. It reflects the Irish Government policy to ensure that sport is inclusive, accessible, and promotes a ‘Sport for All’ ethos. This event will help to further enhance the visibility of disability sports. I want to ensure that having a disability presents no obstacle to participating in sport and physical activity.”

Richard Atkinson, Chief Ryder Cup Officer at the European Tour group, added: “The European Tour group has been a key champion and supporter of G4D in recent years, creating tournaments for leading G4D talent to compete on a world stage. After launching the G4D Open with The R&A in 2023, creating a G4D match to support golf’s greatest team contest felt like the logical next step. The G4D Ryder Cup presented by Ei Electronics will add a new dimension to what promises to be a true celebration of golf as the contest reaches its 100-year anniversary.”

Leo Clancy, CEO of Ei Electronics, commented; “Ei Electronics is delighted to be the Presenting Partner for the inaugural G4D Ryder Cup in 2027. As an Irishowned company, committed to the Mid-West region, this opportunity is a natural fit with our ethics and commitment to social responsibility. We are proud to help enable the world’s best golfers with a disability to compete for the first time as part of the Ryder Cup’s 100th anniversary celebrations.”

Top: Brendan Lawlor and Daphne van Houten won the G4D Open at Woburn in 2025 (pic R&A via Getty Images) Bottom: Ballyneety Golf Club will host the new G4D team match that will precede the 2027 Ryder Cup

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NEW £500,000 FUND FOR GOLFERS WITH A DISABILITY IN WALES

By Golf Business News | March 31, 2026 The Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund is a transformative fund to help improve facilities at golf clubs across Wales for golfers with a disability.

A field of 80 male and female amateur and professional golfers from across the world will compete over 54 holes of strokeplay gross competition on the Roman Road Course, featuring nine sport classes across multiple impairment groups which cover categories in Standing, Intellectual, Visual and Sitting.

Golfers with a disability in Wales will be boosted by a half million-pound fund, an award from Sport Wales with the support of the Welsh Government, thanks to hosting The G4D Open for the first time.

The Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund means each club can apply for funding towards their projects up to a maximum of £20,000. All projects will be required to contribute 20% of the total project cost.

The Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund is a transformative fund to help improve facilities at golf clubs across Wales for golfers with a disability.

The investment in capital projects at Welsh Golf Clubs should develop the sport, enhance facilities and promote equality, diversity and inclusivity.

It will help enhance the offer provided by golf clubs for golfers with a disability, disabled facility users, care providers and the wider local community.

“Wales Golf is committed to ensuring that golf in Wales is a game for everyone,” said Wales Golf Head of Facilities and Sustainability, Dilwyn Griffiths.

The Celtic Manor Resort will host the world’s most talented golfers with disabilities when The G4D Open is staged in Wales for the first time from 14 – 16 May, 2026, and will also play host for the following two years.

“The Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund is intended to act as a catalyst for growing the game and addressing some of the key factors affecting the organic growth of the sport for golfers with disabilities.

Established in 2023, The G4D Open is held in partnership by The R&A and the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA (formally the European Disabled Golf Association).

“Following on from last year’s successful Wales Golf Women’s Golf Legacy Fund, linked to Wales hosting the AIG Women’s Open, this year’s fund aims to build upon 15

the impact of Wales hosting world class sporting events as we welcome The G4D Open to Wales for the next three years.

the resources at their disposal to try golf and enjoy the many physical and mental health benefits that come from playing this great game.”

“Wales Golf celebrates the fact that our sport is inclusive, and hopes to distribute the fund to golf clubs who are committed to a shared goal of making golf ‘Everyone’s Game’.”

Celtic Manor Resort Director of Golf Courses and Estates Management, Jim McKenzie, said: “We are delighted that Wales Golf is launching this Accessibility Fund ahead of our staging of The G4D Open in May. The fund’s aims align with our own commitment to making golf accessible for everyone and the enhancements we have been making to the Roman Road Course to welcome the world’s most talented golfers with disabilities will leave a lasting legacy for inclusive golf at our venue.”

Eligible projects could include: stairlifts, suitable parking provision, ramps, handrails disabled toilets, changing facilities, benches, braille on signage, accessible tees, automatic doors, signage, driving range modifications and outdoor lighting.

Minister for Sport, Jack Sargeant, said: “We want sport in Wales to be accessible to everyone, and this £500,000 fund is a clear statement of our commitment to ensuring golf is no exception. By investing in facilities at clubs across the country, we are removing the barriers that prevent too many people with disabilities from enjoying the game.

EDGA President, Dr Tony Bennett, added: “The vision of Sport Wales in supporting the Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund is a tangible action that clearly demonstrates the importance placed on equality, diversity and inclusion.

“The R&A and the DP World Tour have created a championship that shines a spotlight on the players competing, the venue, and the wider provision of golf for disabled people in the local area. More importantly, it has a ripple effect that can extend across the world as the media covers the three days of competition at Celtic Manor.

“Hosting The G4D Open at Celtic Manor Resort for the next three years is a fantastic opportunity for our nation, and it is right that we use this moment to create a lasting legacy for golfers with disabilities in communities across the country. I encourage clubs to take full advantage of this fund and help us build a more inclusive future for Welsh golf.”

“At EDGA, we congratulate Wales Golf, Sport Wales and the Welsh Government on this far-reaching fund. We are confident that the legacy created through successful funding applications and The G4D Open will ensure that people with disabilities increasingly see golf as a viable and health-enhancing sporting option.”

Kevin Barker, Director – Golf Development – GB&I and Africa, at The R&A, said: “We look forward to staging The G4D Open at Celtic Manor Resort in May, the first time the Championship has ever been held in Wales.

The G4D Open took place for a third time over the Duchess Course at Woburn in May last year, with Brendan Lawlor and Daphne van Houten the respective men’s and women’s winners.

“Building on the success of the Championship at Woburn since 2023, The G4D Open will shine a spotlight on golfers with a disability and help further promote the sport in Wales and beyond.

Building on the success of the last three years, Celtic Manor will now welcome one of the most inclusive championships ever staged.

“We encourage clubs to apply to the Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund to not only improve their own facilities, but enhance their offering to golfers with a disability and help encourage newcomers into the sport.”

To gain access to the Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund application form, clubs must first complete the Club Accessibility Audit.

Maria Grandinetti-Milton, Director of Sustainability at the DP World Tour, added: “The G4D Open is one of the most inclusive tournaments in world golf and by showcasing incredible golfers with inspirational stories, the tournament is helping to drive increased awareness and interest in golf for the disabled. The new Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund will be vital in building a longterm legacy, ensuring that people with a disability have

Upon receipt of a Club Audit, Wales Golf will forward an application form for the Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund.

For further information, please visit https://www.walesgolf.org/resource-detail/wales-golfg4d-accessibility-fund 16

ACCESSIBLE GOLF CARTS, PARK TRAILS, GREENWAYS: DISABILITY COMMISSION KEEPS THINGS MOVING

By Allan Appel | New Haven Independent | March 10, 2026

recommended by the commission, and implementation is slow-going but indeed advancing, according to Parks Department Director Max Webster.

While working through the usual issues of staffing, liability, insurance, and so forth, the next practical step, according to Webster, is actually piloting a model up the road to see how it goes with the slope, and other engineering concerns.

That should happen soon, he added, because the city is currently re-negotiating its lease of golf carts for the city’s municipal course, and some accessible golf carts for the golfers (!) are part of that deal. The hope is for one of those vehicles, or an accessible variant of the same, to be the test vehicle.

Disability-services director Knauff: "One of my concerns is that you come back to talk to us so we’ll see if it is attentive to people with disabilities.” Credit: Dereen Shirnekhi file photo

“Is there anything in the budget [for this] this year?” asked Sally Esposito, the city’s former disability-services director and a former commission member, who regularly attends these monthly meetings.

Be included at the beginning of the planning and design process. Memorialize in actual text your rights and requirements in the relevant official documents. And stay involved in various stages of implementation so that what’s planned is indeed implemented — and maintained — or your fate is to play eternal catch-up.

While the answer was No, Webster said the current proposed parks budget — part of the ongoing city budget negotiations unfolding over the coming months — has categories with some increases, so that if a pilot is successful, money, hopefully, will be available to get the project moving on the road to the summit.

On Monday night members of the city’s Commission on Disabilities kept those key guideposts in mind as they gently peppered visiting (and invited!) Parks Department officials with questions.

Or, as Webster put in, in budgetese, “We might find additional capacity.”

The occasion was the disability-services commission’s regular Zoom monthly meeting. The focus of the meeting was on discussing the whole range of parks projects, ongoing and future. They range from accessible golf carts making their way up to the summit of East Rock to citywide strategic plans in-progress that aspire to take in the concerns of the disabled throughout all the park land and playgrounds in the city.

“People have been denied access for a number of years,” said city disability-services director Gretchen Knauff, “so I’m so happy you’re working on it.”

“It’s a focus of ours, and I hope we can deliver a solution as soon as we can,” Webster replied.

Here’s a summary of updates from the recent gathering: East Rock Accessible Golf Cart Plan: To make the summit available to people with disabilities, the Parks Department is pursuing the golf cart model, as 17

UPCOMING EVENTS & PAST RESULTS EIGHT SIGHTS SELECTED TO HOST U.S. ADAPTIVE OPEN QUALIFYING

By Adrian Godoy, USGA: Eight sites will host qualifying for the 5th U.S. Adaptive Open Championship, which will be contested at Woodmont Country Club, in Rockville, Md., from July 6-8.

Conducted over 18 holes, qualifiers will be held at eight sites across the United States between April 22 and May 26. They will be managed by Allied Golf Associations (AGAs). This year’s championship will be the third year to feature a qualifying method.

2026 USAGA NET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP April 19-21, 2026, Sierra View Country Club (Roseville, CA) NET National Champion - Scottie Fehlberg Tier Champions – Tier 1- Mike Madsen, Tier 2- Vince Biser, Tier 3 – Alan Gentry, Tier 4 – Jason Rose, Tier 5 Chuck Buffum, Tier 6 FULL RESULTS

2026 USDGA CHAMPIONSHIPS April 26-29, 2026, PGA Golf Club (Port St. Lucie, FL) Women’s Overall Champion - Kim Moore Men's Overall Champion - Carson Lane (4-hole playoff over Chad Pfeifer) Senior Champion - Kenny Bontz FULL RESULTS

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Photo: Candace Oehler

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